Neuropathix, Inc. Wholly Owned Subsidiary Kannalife Sciences, Inc. Awarded $2.97 Million Phase 2 Study Grant from National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

The three-year STTR Study Grant is funded through the NIH HEAL Initiative (Helping End Addiction Long-term) for Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management and will provide funding specifically in the Development of KLS-13019 for Neuropathic Pain. The Notice of Award R42NS120548 sets forth the funding allocation of $977,054 in year 1, $991,944 in year 2 and $1,001,774 in year 3.

Of significant collateral importance is the current epidemic of opioid addiction and abuse by patients in the United States and around the globe. In 2015, abuse liability statistics for opioid misusers who obtained opioids from the prescribed patient was as high as 54%. Adding to the equation is the off-label use of opioids and gabapentinoids for chronic and neuropathic pain as a result of the unmet medical need and no FDA approved non-opioid drug to treat chronic and neuropathic pain, specifically Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

"With this generous support from the NIH, the hope of an effective treatment to patients suffering from neuropathic pain is provided by the discovery of a substantial and promising drug candidate. While our early studies in animals have shown evidence for an unprecedented reversal of pain associated with chemotherapy, our future studies will be used to ensure safe dosing and further details on the novel anti-neuroinflammatory mechanisms that help to understand how our new drug candidate works," said Douglas Brenneman, PhD, Chief Pharmacologist of Neuropathix.

"I am thrilled to be able to continue this exciting collaboration with the scientists at Neuropathix. It is truly a researcher's dream to be able to witness early ideas and years of discovery at the bench bring us this close to making an impact on human health and disease. My laboratory is ready and eager to embark on this new stage of investigation with KLS-13019 into its therapeutic potential as an anti-neuropathic agent," said Sara Jane Ward, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the Katz School of Medicine.

"Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a real problem worldwide and a window into what real unmet needs are in treating chronic and neuropathic pain, as well as reducing the use of opioids in CIPN and many other inflammatory pain related diseases and disorders. We are extremely grateful to the entire NIH-NINDS, the HEAL Initiative committee, the dedicated scientists at the NINDS' Preclinical Screening Program for Pain (PSPP) within HEAL; and the HEAL Initiative scientific study group for recognizing the importance of furthering our discovery and selecting our application for funding under the HEAL Initiative. These critical resources will allow us to do the necessary research for a potential future IND filing with the U.S. FDA. God has blessed us with a wonderful team of scientists in Doylestown, namely Drs. Doug Brenneman, Bill Kinney and Mark McDonnell, all of whom are selfless, dedicated and extraordinarily talented scientists that share a common goal of helping people in need with novel medicines. We are also very grateful to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Dr. Sara Jane Ward and her research team at Temple University for their invaluable contribution to life sciences, the cannabinoid-based therapeutics space, and belief in the potential of KLS-13019. We are on this road to the clinic together," said Dean Petkanas, CEO of Neuropathix.