Prof. Raphael Mechoulam,Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University School of Medicine

Prof. Francesca Levi-Schaffer, Institute for Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University School of Medicine

Application

  • Fungal infections are a major health concern, as they can cause serious diseases in humans and animals. Such infections include candidiasis which can affect the skin, mucous membranes, and internal organs and Aspergillosis infection which can cause a range of respiratory symptoms. Fungus infections can also damage crops and other plants. Some of the most harmful infections include Fusarium wilt, Powdery mildew, and Rusts.
  • Currently, fungal infections are treated with antifungal drugs, which might be ineffective to start with, have side effects, and may lead to the development of drug-resistant strains of fungi.

Our Innovation

We discovered and synthesized novel abnormal cannabinoid derivatives – which are cannabinoid-like molecules that do not exert their effect via CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptors and instead exert their effects through other receptors. These novel derivatives exhibit potent antifungal activity against a wide range of fungal pathogens, including Candida albicans.  We found that these compounds work through a novel mechanism of action, thus leading to cell death.

Advantages

  • New chemical entities
  • Strong fungicidal activity allowing biofilm disruption.
  • Low toxicity
  • Potentially more cost-effective in comparison to current antifungal drugs, particularly for patients in developing countries who may not have access to expensive antifungal treatments.

Opportunity

IP-protected abnormal cannabinoid derivatives that show promise as a new class of antifungal agents with the potential to treat a wide range of fungal infections as well as fungal infections that are associated with inflammation and immune dysfunction.