Artelo Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARTL) ("Artelo" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on modulating lipid-signalling pathways to develop treatments for people living with cancer, pain, dermatologic, or neurological conditions, today announced new data supporting the therapeutic potential of ART26.12, its proprietary and selective fatty acid binding protein 5 (FABP5) inhibitor, as a novel product candidate for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Martin Kaczocha, Ph.D., Professor of Anesthesiology at Stony Brook University, New York, presented the research results at the International Cannabinoid Research Society 2026 Annual Symposium recently held in Dijon, France.

In the nonclinical OA study, oral administration of ART26.12 significantly reduced osteoarthritis-associated pain behaviors following both acute and chronic dosing over a 4-week period, demonstrating efficacy comparable to naproxen, a widely prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat OA. ART26.12 produced distinct changes in endocannabinoids and other related bioactive lipids and proteins compared to naproxen, supporting a novel mechanism of action for ART26.12. Importantly, animals treated with ART26.12 exhibited significantly less stomach tissue damage, including non-glandular hyperkeratosis, compared to those receiving naproxen. Non-glandular hyperkeratosis is considered an early indicator of erosions and gastric ulcers, a well-recognized and potentially serious complication associated with chronic NSAID use. These findings suggest ART26.12 may offer effective pain relief with the potential for an improved gastrointestinal safety profile.