US Patent #6,541,510relates to claims made and awarded for a series of bicyclic resorcinols named cannabichromenes. These compounds are simple derivatives of the first series of resorcinols synthesized by Dr. Sam Ananthan of the Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, Alabama. As part of the high throughput screening process conducted by The Southern Research Institute in Frederick, Maryland, one of these compounds, IMG-508, was inhibitory of HIV in micromolar concentrations. Since they do not bind to the CB2 receptors, another mechanism is needed to explain why cell division was interrupted; it is quite possible that the mechanism is related to cytostasis. No further research has been conducted to determine if there is any value or likelihood of commercial success. With patent protection on the wane, further testing should focus on whether congeners of the drug are any more effective in blocking viral replication than the original compound. Even if a new drug entity were effective against HIV, its mechanism would have to be known and also exhibit an excellent safety profile. Awards for these studies could be made by Immugen and eventually the Immugen Research Foundation.
