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Inhaled Dronabinol Partner: Solvay Pharmaceuticals Indications: Multiple Status: Phase 2 clinical trials

Inhaled Dronabinol is in development for use in multiple indications. Dronabinol is the active ingredient in Marinol® capsules, the Unimed Pharmaceutical product approved and marketed in the United States as an appetite stimulant for HIV/AIDS patients and as an antiemetic to stem the nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.

Nektar, in partnership with Solvay Pharmaceuticals is developing a metered dose inhaler (MDI) version of dronabinol (synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) using our patented Advanced Pulmonary Delivery Technology.

"Some oral medications are broken down by the liver before reaching the bloodstream, which limits the amount of the parent drug that is systemically available. The dronabinol metered dose inhaler provides maximum plasma concentrations within minutes, delivers a controlled dose and could offer an alternative for patients when a fast onset of action is desirable."

-Jodi Miller, Pharm.D., M.S., Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The results of a Phase 1 clinical study evaluating the safety and tolerability of pulmonary dronabinol administered in a one-time dose using a pressurized metered dose inhaler were recently announced. The study determined that the new formulation of pulmonary dronabinol, delivered with a pressurized metered dose inhaler, provided rapid systemic absorption. All dose levels used in the research were considered safe in healthy young and elderly subjects. The research was presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2005 Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.

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