{"id":194999,"date":"2025-12-16T17:03:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:03:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/194999\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T17:03:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T17:03:10","slug":"synthetic-cannabinoid-comes-without-the-side-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/194999\/","title":{"rendered":"Synthetic Cannabinoid Comes Without the Side Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Northeastern University researchers have made a breakthrough drug discovery<\/a>, developing the first synthetic endogenous cannabinoid compound, with repercussions for new therapeutics from pain and inflammation to cancer.<\/p>\n

Spyros P. Nikas<\/a>, an associate research professor<\/a> in Northeastern\u2019s Center for Drug Discovery<\/a>, says that the discovery hinges on the distinction between two different kinds of cannabinoid chemicals, endogenous and exogenous.<\/p>\n

Exogenous cannabinoids are those produced outside the human body, like THC or CBD, both derived from the cannabis plant and present in marijuana.<\/p>\n

Our own bodies, however, are also producing cannabinoids all the time. Called endogenous cannabinoids \u2014 or just \u201cendocannabinoids\u201d \u2014 these chemicals \u201cmodulate a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological responses,\u201d Nikas says, processes that include mood, inflammation and even neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\"Alexandros07\/02\/24 \u2013 Boston, MA \u2013 Alexandros Makriyannis, director of the Center for Drug Discovery at Northeastern, poses for a portrait in his Mugar Life Sciences lab on Tuesday, July 2, 2023. Makriyannis has been awarded the 2024 CMCR Pioneer in Medicinal Cannabis Research Award. Photo by Alyssa Stone\/Northeastern University<\/p>\n

\"A11\/04\/25 \u2013 BOSTON, MA. \u2013 Markos Orestis Georgiadis, a post-doctoral researcher, performs research in the Mugar Life Sciences Building on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Photo by Alyssa Stone\/Northeastern University<\/p>\n

\"A11\/04\/25 \u2013 BOSTON, MA. \u2013 Spyridon Nikas, Northeastern chemistry research professor in drug discovery, and Markos Orestis Georgiadis, a post-doctoral researcher, perform drug discovery research in the Mugar Life Sciences Building on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Photo by Alyssa Stone\/Northeastern University
\nTop left, Alexandros Makriyannis inspects a chemical in his laboratory; at bottom, associate research professor Spyros P. Nikas (standing) and Markos-Orestis Georgiadis, a post-doctoral researcher, perform drug discovery research in the Mugar Life Sciences Building. Photos by Alyssa Stone\/Northeastern University<\/p>\n

Cannabinoids \u2014 not just cannabis<\/p>\n

Endocannabinoids don\u2019t have the same structure as the plant-derived cannabinoids, \u201cbut they do exactly the same job,\u201d says Alexandros Makriyannis<\/a>, the George D. Behrakis chair of the department of chemistry and chemical biology.<\/p>\n

The cannabinoid system within the human body \u2014 \u201ccombining endocannabinoids, receptors and enzymes\u201d \u2014\u00a0Nikas says, \u201cexists everywhere with high abundance in the central nervous system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Due to its prominence, Nikas calls it \u201ca system that is responsible for the homeostasis of the human being.\u201d<\/p>\n

The receptors that bind with cannabinoids, called CB1 and CB2, are also found throughout the body, but \u201cthey have different distribution in different tissues and organs,\u201d Nikas says.<\/p>\n

Drugs that target the CB1 and CB2 receptors do exist already in medicine \u2014 for instance, to prevent vomiting in chemotherapy patients \u2014 but these are derived from the exogenous cannabinoids, and thus also exhibit the cannabis plant\u2019s side effects, from hallucinations to dependence, Nikas says.<\/p>\n

Drugs derived from endocannabinoids \u201care not expected to have these side effects,\u201d Nikas says, as they are made inside our own, but the synthetic variety could still \u201chave a wide range of therapeutic utility.\u201d<\/p>\n

If researchers can produce synthetic endocannabinoids, they should come with all the medical benefits of our own naturally created endocannabinoids without the attendant side effects of exogenous cannabinoids. The problem is how unstable these synthetics usually are.<\/p>\n

Mirrored solutions<\/p>\n

Endocannabinoids break down quickly inside the body. Part of what\u2019s revolutionary about these new synthetic endocannabinoids is that they are more potent and stable than any previously discovered, according to Nikas.<\/p>\n

He says that they solved the problem through something called \u201cchirality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Derived from the Greek word for \u201chand,\u201d chirality refers to a mirrored property, where the reflection doesn\u2019t perfectly match the original \u2014 like our hands, which don\u2019t perfectly mirror one another.<\/p>\n

The Center for Drug Discovery used a \u201cnature-related chiral approach in order to make these compounds much more potent and metabolically resistant,\u201d Nikas says. \u201cIn nature everything is inherently chiral, this includes all proteins, receptors and enzymes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

To make their synthetic endocannabinoid molecule chiral, Makriyannis says they used a \u201csimple but ingenious approach\u201d: They attached one methyl group \u2014 a simple hydrocarbon \u2014 to the endocannabinoid\u2019s structure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a question of fit,\u201d Makriyannis continues. By leveraging chirality, the synthetic endocannabinoid now \u201cfits\u201d into the CB1 and CB2 receptors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That methyl group also greatly increased the endocannabinoid\u2019s stability and selectivity. \u201cThe more selective the better,\u201d Makriyannis continues, as this will prevent the synthetic endocannabinoid from binding to receptors it doesn\u2019t have any business binding to.<\/p>\n

The CB1 and CB2 receptors can now \u201crecognize our compound while simultaneously blocking enzymes from accessing critical \u2018soft spots.\u2019 As a result, the novel chiral endocannabinoids exhibit exceptional biological potency and robust metabolic stability,\u201d Nikas says.<\/p>\n

\"Markos-Orestis11\/04\/25 \u2013 BOSTON, MA. \u2013 Markos Orestis Georgiadis, a post-doctoral researcher, performs research in the Mugar Life Sciences Building on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Photo by Alyssa Stone\/Northeastern University<\/p>\n

Next comes application<\/p>\n

They have already shown the endocannabinoid\u2019s effectiveness as an analgesic in mice, but Nikas notes that cannabinoids have applications far beyond mood (as in recreational cannabis use) or pain alleviation. Use cases include protecting from strokes and neurodegenerative disorders, including dementia, and even obesity. \u201cAll the energy balance in the organism,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext to morphine, cannabis is the next best way to reduce pain,\u201d Makriyannis previously told Northeastern Global News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not only mood. Mood is little,\u201d Nikas says.<\/p>\n

Nikas says that they have started testing applications for their new molecule, specifically in protecting against strokes and even \u201creversal of the stroke\u2019s effects after it happens.\u201d They will also test it against other pain relief options for inflammation, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.<\/p>\n

In describing just how far ahead the Center for Drug Discovery is on this important breakthrough, Nikas says, \u201cWe are without any competitor now, because we are very far \u2014 at the very top \u2014 on this endocannabinoid chemistry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noah Lloyd is the assistant editor for research at Northeastern Global News and NGN Research. Email him at n.lloyd@northeastern.edu<\/a>. Follow him on X\/Twitter at @noahghola<\/a>.<\/p>\n