SOLANA BEACH, Calif. — September 23, 2026
Artelo Biosciences announced that it has filed a new provisional patent application covering ART27.13 for the treatment of obesity, both as a monotherapy and in combination with GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide. The filing follows unexpected findings from the company’s nonclinical DIO-2 study, in which ART27.13 produced approximately 20% weight loss as monotherapy and approximately 40% weight loss when combined with semaglutide over four weeks in obese mice. Artelo said the new application expands its intellectual property position for ART27.13 into obesity and supports further investigation of its potential metabolic effects.
ART27.13 Shows Weight Loss in Obese Mouse Model
ART27.13 demonstrated substantial weight loss in the diet-induced obesity mouse model, with approximately 20% reduction from baseline following monotherapy, comparable to semaglutide in the study. Combination treatment with ART27.13 and semaglutide resulted in approximately 40% weight loss. Artelo reported that approximately 80% of weight lost in ART27.13-treated groups was fat, compared with approximately 70% with semaglutide alone. The combination also produced greater appetite suppression and further improved oral glucose tolerance compared with semaglutide alone. These findings are from a nonclinical animal model and do not establish weight-loss efficacy or safety in humans.
Combination Data Show Metabolic and Bone Finding
The combination of ART27.13 and semaglutide also increased bone mineral density in the obese mice, an effect that was not observed in the other treatment groups. The company reported reductions in total cholesterol, LDL and HDL across treatment groups, with greater reductions when ART27.13 and semaglutide were administered together, while liver hypertrophy was reduced across all treatment groups. ART27.13 is a peripherally restricted dual cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor agonist designed to produce systemic metabolic effects while limiting central nervous system exposure. Artelo said it plans to investigate the mechanisms underlying the observed effects on appetite, metabolism and bone.
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Artelo Expands ART27.13 Clinical Development Path
The new patent filing expands ART27.13 development into obesity while the compound continues to be evaluated in clinical studies for other indications. ART27.13 has been studied in six completed clinical studies and two ongoing clinical trials involving nearly 300 participants, according to the company. Artelo is currently evaluating the compound in the Phase 2 Cancer Appetite Recovery Study (CAReS) as a supportive-care treatment for cancer-related anorexia and weight loss, as well as in the Phase 2 DREAM study in glaucoma. The company is positioning ART27.13 as a potential complement to GLP-1 therapies, but the obesity findings remain preclinical and require clinical validation.
Source :Artelo Biosciences, press release
