Artelo Biosciences enrolls first patient in phase 2 DREAM study in patients with glaucoma

Artelo Biosciences has enrolled the first patient in the phase 2 DREAM study, evaluating the company’s orally administered synthetic cannabinoid, ART27.13, in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

The phase 2 DREAM (Determining the Role of synthetic cannabinoids in Eye pressure And tolerability Measurements) recruiting males aged 40 years or older and females aged 55 years or older with ocular hypertension or early primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The primary outcome of the trial is intraocular pressure (IOP) measured using Goldmann Applanation Tonometry (GAT). Patients underwent a 4-week washout period before baseline and will not use any glaucoma drops during the trial.

One half of participants will be randomized to receive ART27.13 or placebo for 3 weeks. After an additional 3-week washout, patients who originally received ART27.13 will be switched to placebo, and placebo patients will be switched to ART127.13 for 3 additional weeks. One week after initial dosing, patients will undergo an interview on how they are feeling and subsequently return to the clinic after 3 weeks of treatment to complete a questionnaire and have blood taken along with a physical exam and eye exams to measure IOP.

ART27.13 is also being developed as a once-daily, orally administered agent selectively targeting peripheral CB1 and CB2 receptors, with the potential to reduce muscle degeneration while improving body weight, appetite, and quality of life in cancer patients.

Augusto Azuara-Blanco, PhD, FRCS (Ed), FRCOphth, Queen’s University Belfast, is leading the DREAM study.

“There remains an urgent need for safe, well-tolerated, and effective new treatments for glaucoma that can provide additional options to reduce intraocular pressure and preserve vision,” said Azuara-Blanco. “The potential role of peripherally selective cannabinoids in ocular health is an exciting and largely unexplored area. This study is expected to provide important insights into whether ART27.13, which is designed to act outside the central nervous system, can safely lower intraocular pressure without psychotropic side effects.”

“The DREAM study has the potential to demonstrate whether an orally active cannabinoid has a role in managing intraocular pressure. ART27.13’s peripherally selective design may overcome the challenges of CNS adverse effects, which has been an issue when other oral or topical cannabinoids have been explored in this indication,” added Gregory D. Gorgas, president and CEO of Artelo Biosciences.

The company noted it intends to announce initial results from the DREAM study “later this year.”

References:

1. Artelo Announces Enrollment of First Patient in a Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluating ART27.13 for Treatment of Glaucoma. Published August 10, 2026. Accessed August 10, 2026. https://ir.artelobio.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/196/artelo-announces-enrollment-of-first-patient-in-a-phase-2

2. Determining the role of synthetic cannabinoids in eye pressure and tolerability measurements. Accessed August 10, 2026. ISRCTN10996483 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10996483