InMed Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research and development of novel, cannabinoid-based drug therapies, announced the filing of a provisional patent application in the United States for INM-085 as a cannabinoid-based topical therapy for glaucoma, which is an important step in providing intellectual and commercial protection for this therapy.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases which result in damage to the optic nerve and vision loss. Worldwide, it is the second-leading cause of blindness, and the current global market for drug therapies to treat glaucoma exceeds US$5 billion.  Risk factors for glaucoma include increased pressure in the eye, a family history of the condition, migraines, high blood pressure, and obesity. Investigators studying patient adherence to glaucoma medications have identified multiple factors related to poor adherence, including more frequent and complex dosing regimens.

InMed is developing a stimulus-responsive, nanoparticle-laden vehicle for controlled delivery of ophthalmic drugs into the aqueous humor of the eye. The first applications of this vehicle will be for INM-085 as a cannabinoid-based topical therapy to reduce the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma. INM-085 is intended for application as a once-per-day eye drop administered immediately prior to the patient's bedtime, intending to assist in reducing the high rate of non-adherence with current glaucoma therapies.  Additionally, this novel, proprietary delivery system for ophthalmic drugs may also play an important role in enabling other companies' proprietary ophthalmic drug candidates or re-invigorating the commercial potential of off-patent products that would benefit from a once-a-day dosing regimen. InMed plans to initiate discussion with potential partners to this end.