Synthetic 'Pot' Relieves Arthritis Pain

[Guest guest]

Synthetic 'Pot' Relieves Arthritis Pain

Wed Aug 21, 7:07 PM ET

By Adam Marcus

HealthScoutNews Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthScoutNews) -- A man-made molecule may change the

debate over medical marijuana.

The compound, called ajulemic acid (AjA), is a synthetic chemical that's

structurally similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in

pot. However, it doesn't seem to interact with brain cells in the same way

as the plant form, and it generates no " high, " unlike marijuana or even

occasionally Marinol, a molecular mimic of THC that's prescribed for the

nausea associated with AIDS ( news - web sites) and cancer treatment.

AjA has shown promise in a variety of conditions, from multiple sclerosis,

in which it helps ease muscle spasms and pain, to cancer, in which it seems

to have the ability at high doses to quash tumor growth.

Now it appears to also show promise in the treatment of arthritis, according

to new research by the University of Massachusetts chemist who helped

discover AjA's properties and owns patents on it.

Sumner Burstein's earlier work in rats showed the compound almost completely

blocked the joint destruction in the rodent version of rheumatoid arthritis,

a crippling disorder for people. It also led to significant, though less

powerful, effects on pain and inflammation.

The impetus for developing ajulemic acid fell out of Burstein's discovery

years ago that the principle breakdown product of THC in the body had mild

anti-inflammatory effects.

In the new work, Burstein and his colleagues tested AjA in both rat cells

and blood samples from healthy human volunteers. They found AjA had a

dose-dependent effect on two key immune system chemicals called

interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a).

Intriguingly, Burstein says, the synthetic molecule muzzled IL-1b, which in

arthritis is an agent involved in joint destruction. Yet, it was less potent

against TNF-a.

The data " really fits perfectly " with the initial rat study, conducted in

1998, says Burstein, who was to present his findings today at the American

Chemical Society's annual meeting in Boston.

" We got significant decreases in both, but I would say when you compare the

two of them that there's no question that the effect on bone damage was

much, much more significant " than the reduction in pain and inflammation, he

adds.

Even so, Burstein says, AjA appears to be as potent an agent against

arthritis pain and swelling as the most powerful drugs on the market.

What's more, he believes the synthetic chemical will have fewer side effects

on the gut, kidneys and other organs than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

compounds such as ibuprofen, aspirin or even the newer cox-2 inhibitors.

The substance is being developed as CT-3 by the Lexington, Mass.-based

biotech firm Indevus Pharmaceuticals. German scientists are currently

testing CT-3 in a small study of people with chronic pain. Results of that

trial should be reported in the coming months.

However, it already has raised some professional skepticism.

Dr. Jody Corey-Bloom, a marijuana expert at the University of California,

San Diego (UCSD), says she's not familiar with AjA. But, she adds, " none of

the [synthetic THC compounds] to date have been very impressive. Marinol's

on the market, and nobody likes it. "

Corey-Bloom, part of UCSD's Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, says her

patients complain that taking the synthetic drug doesn't offer them the same

relief as inhaled marijuana.

[Guest guest]

I love this article...my PCP and I just had a great

discussion on this....I was complaining about all the

man made chemicals we put in our bodies and he

suggested as the SD had already screwed my lungs that

MJ was the most natural pain killer there was ...which

started a conversation about mean...obstinate

drunks....that kill behind a wheel...where a pot

smoker is probably only going 5 miles a hour so who is

he killing....and is usually full of love and just

looking for a bag of chips and some twinkies....but we

did agree as it is illegal it just is not an

option...he did say some day they will find away

around it for medical use...so I will print this

article...it really was a fun conversation and I

always tease him about being a DO and not an

MD....this topic sure had me surprised....LOL Kathi in

OK....PS Kathy in ILL...it must be the pot first then

the injection....then you dont get the

munchies:D.....too funny..

--- a <paula54@...> wrote:

> Synthetic 'Pot' Relieves Arthritis Pain

> Wed Aug 21, 7:07 PM ET

>

> By Adam Marcus

> HealthScoutNews Reporter

>

> WEDNESDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthScoutNews) -- A man-made

> molecule may change the

> debate over medical marijuana.

>

>

> The compound, called ajulemic acid (AjA), is a

> synthetic chemical that's

> structurally similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),

> the active ingredient in

> pot. However, it doesn't seem to interact with brain

> cells in the same way

> as the plant form, and it generates no " high, "

> unlike marijuana or even

> occasionally Marinol, a molecular mimic of THC

> that's prescribed for the

> nausea associated with AIDS ( news - web sites) and

> cancer treatment.

>

> AjA has shown promise in a variety of conditions,

> from multiple sclerosis,

> in which it helps ease muscle spasms and pain, to

> cancer, in which it seems

> to have the ability at high doses to quash tumor

> growth.

>

> Now it appears to also show promise in the treatment

> of arthritis, according

> to new research by the University of Massachusetts

> chemist who helped

> discover AjA's properties and owns patents on it.

>

> Sumner Burstein's earlier work in rats showed the

> compound almost completely

> blocked the joint destruction in the rodent version

> of rheumatoid arthritis,

> a crippling disorder for people. It also led to

> significant, though less

> powerful, effects on pain and inflammation.

>

> The impetus for developing ajulemic acid fell out of

> Burstein's discovery

> years ago that the principle breakdown product of

> THC in the body had mild

> anti-inflammatory effects.

>

> In the new work, Burstein and his colleagues tested

> AjA in both rat cells

> and blood samples from healthy human volunteers.

> They found AjA had a

> dose-dependent effect on two key immune system

> chemicals called

> interleukin-1b (IL-1b) and tumor-necrosis

> factor-alpha (TNF-a).

>

> Intriguingly, Burstein says, the synthetic molecule

> muzzled IL-1b, which in

> arthritis is an agent involved in joint destruction.

> Yet, it was less potent

> against TNF-a.

>

> The data " really fits perfectly " with the initial

> rat study, conducted in

> 1998, says Burstein, who was to present his findings

> today at the American

> Chemical Society's annual meeting in Boston.

>

> " We got significant decreases in both, but I would

> say when you compare the

> two of them that there's no question that the effect

> on bone damage was

> much, much more significant " than the reduction in

> pain and inflammation, he

> adds.

>

> Even so, Burstein says, AjA appears to be as potent

> an agent against

> arthritis pain and swelling as the most powerful

> drugs on the market.

>

> What's more, he believes the synthetic chemical will

> have fewer side effects

> on the gut, kidneys and other organs than

> non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

> compounds such as ibuprofen, aspirin or even the

> newer cox-2 inhibitors.

>

> The substance is being developed as CT-3 by the

> Lexington, Mass.-based

> biotech firm Indevus Pharmaceuticals. German

> scientists are currently

> testing CT-3 in a small study of people with chronic

> pain. Results of that

> trial should be reported in the coming months.

>

> However, it already has raised some professional

> skepticism.

>

> Dr. Jody Corey-Bloom, a marijuana expert at the

> University of California,

> San Diego (UCSD), says she's not familiar with AjA.

> But, she adds, " none of

> the [synthetic THC compounds] to date have been very

> impressive. Marinol's

> on the market, and nobody likes it. "

>

> Corey-Bloom, part of UCSD's Center for Medicinal

> Cannabis Research, says her

> patients complain that taking the synthetic drug

> doesn't offer them the same

> relief as inhaled marijuana.

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

This is still a man made chemical. Until they figure out how to regulate MJ

and reap all the profits for the drug companies, I doubt we will ever see it

legalized. It¹s to easy to grow in your back yard just like any other herb.

It is a great pain reliever, but unfortunately it makes me paranoid and

depressed. I agree with you that alcohol causes problems, maybe more than

MJ, but then if MJ was legal and people smoked and drove, we may find that

they are comparable. That 5 MPH driver may be doing that on major highways.

So then our police force would be equipped with alcohol and MJ tests.

Medically speaking, I am in favor of legalizing it for chronic pain. It¹s

no worse than pain meds in my eyes.

It¹s great that your doc is open minded and you can talk about things like

this, although I know it is strange!

a

> I love this article...my PCP and I just had a great

> discussion on this....I was complaining about all the

> man made chemicals we put in our bodies and he

> suggested as the SD had already screwed my lungs that

> MJ was the most natural pain killer there was ...which

> started a conversation about mean...obstinate

> drunks....that kill behind a wheel...where a pot

> smoker is probably only going 5 miles a hour so who is

> he killing....and is usually full of love and just

> looking for a bag of chips and some twinkies....but we

> did agree as it is illegal it just is not an

> option...he did say some day they will find away

> around it for medical use...so I will print this

> article...it really was a fun conversation and I

> always tease him about being a DO and not an

> MD....this topic sure had me surprised....LOL Kathi in

> OK....PS Kathy in ILL...it must be the pot first then

> the injection....then you dont get the

> munchies:D.....too funny..

> --- a <paula54@...> wrote:

>> > Synthetic 'Pot' Relieves Arthritis Pain

>> > Wed Aug 21, 7:07 PM ET