Joseph F. Foss BSc, MD

Dr. Foss is a graduate of Brown University where he did both his undergraduate studies and received his medical degree. He subsequently received his training in clinical pharmacology at the University of Chicago and led the development of methylnaltrexone, a peripherally active opioid antagonist. This involved the proof of principle trials in pre-clinical models, the first-in-man studies, and subsequent proof-of-concept trials and studies of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in man. He was responsible for the regulatory submissions during this period and had several meetings with the FDA. Methylnaltrexone was licensed out and approved for clinical use (as Relistor®) in the management of opioid side effects in patients with advanced medical illness, such as cancer patients receiving opioids for palliative care. He subsequently worked for Adolor, a small biotech company developing alvimopan, another peripherally acting opioid antagonist, which also has been approved for clinical use. At Adolor he was also responsible for the translational program developing novel analgesics. He designed and managed two first-in-man trials for these new molecular entities as well as the proof-of-concept trials for the treatment of pain. He was subsequently recruited to Cleveland Clinic to assist in developing the research program in anesthesiology. His extensive experience in research, development of clinical programs and his management of the regulatory aspects of bringing a drug from the lab into clinical use puts him in a strong position to ensure the success of the development of CB2-agonists for the management of AD and neuropathic pain.