Wire: THC metabolite and anti-inflammatory drug: CT-3

Newshawk: GDaurer@aol.com Source: Business Wire Pubdate: 10 Nov 1997

THC METABOLITE AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG: CT-3

Robert B. Zurier, MD, To Present Findings At American College of Rheumatology Conference, Nov. 10

Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq SmallCap: ATLC) announced today that its proprietary lead compound CT-3 has shown anti-inflammatory activity in pre-clinical animal studies that modeled the effects of arthritis. CT-3 is a non-psychoactive synthetic derivative of a metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive compound found in cannabis (marijuana). The study was led by University of Massachusetts Professor of Medicine Robert B. Zurier, MD, who will report his findings today at the 61st National Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Washington, D.C.

In several studies, oral administration of CT-3 was found to have a potent effect in reducing inflammation in laboratory animals. "Together with CT-3's previously demonstrated pain-relieving action, these findings suggest that CT-3 could ultimately be a very useful drug if these therapeutic effects can be replicated in future human clinical trials," stated J. D. Lindjord, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Zurier is Director of the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, and a member of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals' Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Zurier conducted the CT-3 study in association with Ronald G. Rossetti, MPH, Joan H. Lane, DVM, DACVP, John M. Goldberg, BA, Sheila A. Hunter, MSc, and Sumner H. Burstein, PhD, all of the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.

CT-3 is Atlantic Pharmaceuticals' internal name for dimethylheptyl-THC-11 oic acid (DMH-11C), a synthetic drug that appears to reverse the psychoactive effects of THC, while demonstrating unexpectedly powerful analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The Company is now conducting a series of pre-clinical toxicology studies to test the safety of CT-3 for future testing in human clinical trials. The Company anticipates that these studies will culminate with the filing of an investigational new drug (IND) application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other major regulatory agencies.

Atlantic Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company developing pharmaceutical and biomedical products for a variety of therapeutic areas. The Company's strategy, which differentiates its approach from most biotechnology firms, is to develop a diverse portfolio of promising and independent product candidates licensed from a variety of sources. Currently, Atlantic is developing novel technologies in antisense gene therapy, cataract removal, prevention of restenosis following coronary angioplasty, and anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs.

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