Drugs inhibiting FAAH increase cannabinoid receptor activity in a manner distinct from cannabinoid agonists to treat hypertension, relieve pain or have other therapeutic effect with lessened side effects.

The enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is responsible for the degradation of the lipid anandamide. This is a cannabinoid naturally secreted from both the brain and body.  Cannabinoid receptors mediate blood pressure, pain sensation, hunger and anxiety among other actions.  Drugs inhibiting FAAH increase cannabinoid receptor activity in a manner distinct from cannabinoid agonists to treat hypertension, relieve pain or have other therapeutic effect with lessened side effects.

 

Applications:

• Treat hypertension and accompanying cardiac hypertrophy
• Treatment of anxiety
• Treatment of glaucoma
• As a pain reliever or sleep aid

 

Publication:

Bátkai S, Pacher P, Osei-Hyiaman D, Radaeva S, Liu J, Harvey-White J, Offertáler L, Mackie K, Rudd MA, Bukoski RD, Kunos G. Endocannabinoids acting at cannabinoid-1 receptors regulate cardiovascular function in hypertension. Circulation. 2004 Oct 5;110(14):1996-2002.  [PubMed abs]

 

 

Preclinical

U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/998,661 filed 12 Dec 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-211-2006/0-US-01)

 

Inventors:

George Kunos (NIAAA) et al.

 

 

Licensees Sought:

Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.

 

Collaborative Research Opportunity:

The NIAAA Laboratory of Physiologic Studies is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors.  Please contact Peter B. Silverman (psilverm@mail.nih.gov) for more information.