Artelo’s ART12.11 Demonstrates Superior Efficacy And Bioavailability Over CBD In Preclinical Study

Artelo Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapies that modulate lipid-signalling pathways, announced the publication of new preclinical results on ART12.11, its proprietary cannabidiol: tetramethylpyrazine (CBD: TMP) cocrystal. The study, published in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry in collaboration with Western Ontario University, showed that ART12.11 significantly outperformed cannabidiol (CBD) alone in treating stress-induced depression and anxiety while also demonstrating superior oral bioavailability.

Professor Saoirse O'Sullivan, Vice President of Translational Sciences, said, “We are pleased to see the publication of this important work demonstrating the impact of our oral ART12.11 CBD cocrystal in stress-induced anxiety and depression. ART12.11’s ability to improve stress-induced symptoms was not seen with CBD alone, the cocrystal coformer alone, or coadministration of CBD and the cocrystal conformer TMP. This shows the uniqueness of ART12.11.”

Key findings highlighted that ART12.11 produced robust antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects, reversing stress-induced behavioural deficits more effectively than CBD alone, TMP alone, or a non-crystalline CBD-TMP mixture. Oral administration of ART12.11 achieved higher plasma concentrations of CBD and its primary metabolite, underscoring improved pharmacokinetics. Mechanistic studies further revealed enhanced activation of endocannabinoid and serotonergic systems in brain regions critical for mood regulation, including the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens.

Matt Jones, the lead researcher of this work at the University of Western Ontario, said, “In our recent study, we found that ART12.11 produced promising anti-depressant- and anti-anxiety-like effects. Our results suggest that ART12.11 works by selectively influencing serotonergic activity and endocannabinoid signalling,  key pathways in mood regulation, while leaving other systems largely unaffected. This selectivity may help maximise therapeutic benefits while minimising side effects.”

By overcoming the limitations of conventional CBD, such as poor bioavailability and inconsistent efficacy, ART12.11 could represent a significant advancement in cannabinoid-based therapies for mood and anxiety disorders. Artelo also noted regulatory progress in the UK, with the MHRA granting use of existing CBD and TMP data to support development. This streamlined pathway is expected to lower costs and accelerate ART12.11’s advancement into first-in-human clinical studies planned for next year.