Kannalife, Inc. announced that it has completed its phase 1 study funded by a grant (1R41DA044898-01) from the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The study was performed by Kannalife and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) to assess KLS-13019, the Company’s patented cannabidiol (CBD)-like molecule as a potential treatment of neuropathic pain and drug dependence. The pre-clinical grant study was performed in an animal model to evaluate the potential use of KLS-13019 as a potent, non-opioid alternative in the prevention and reversal of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The animal model portion of the study was conducted by Sara Jane Ward, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at LKSOM. Dr. Ward had independently begun the research focused on CBD for the potential treatment of CIPN in 2010 at LKSOM and published three papers on the subject prior to beginning the collaboration with Kannalife. Kannalife performed pharmacology studies on the mechanism of action of KLS-13019 and its effects on the sodium-calcium exchanger (mNCX-1), an important regulator of mitochondrial function. The completed study could lead to a Phase 2 grant and further advances Kannalife’s belief that KLS-13019 could become a viable drug candidate, and an alternative to opioids, as a treatment for patients suffering from CIPN, and chronic pain management. CIPN is a disabling pain condition that afflicts between 30-40 percent of patients undergoing chemotherapy, for which there is no effective prevention strategy and treatment of established chronic CIPN is limited.1 Existing treatment options primarily include anticonvulsants and antidepressants, as well as opioids in more severe cases of CIPN. The global market for neuropathic pain was valued at more than $5 billion in 2015, and in 2016, CIPN accounted for more than 42 percent of market revenue. It’s estimated that by 2024, the total global neuropathic pain market will be worth more than $8.3 billion. The global opioids drug market was valued at $22.85 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $32.6 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 4.54% during a forecast period. Opioids are mainly used in cancer pain management and end-stage diseases in which painkilling care is required. The rising prevalence of cancer, high demand for pain therapeutics in the treatment of chronic pain, regulatory approvals and launches of innovative drug formulations, and increasing approval rate of abuse-deterrent formulations of opioid drugs are major driving factors of the global opioids drugs market. Extensive misuse of opioids, the growing incidence of death related to opioid overdose, and the rising number of lawsuits against opioid manufacturers are hindering the growth of the market.