dronabinol (Insys Therapeutics)

Dronabinol is a synthetic form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. Developed by INSYS Therapeutics as an oral solution (Syndros), it acts as a partial agonist at the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. The CB1 receptors, primarily located in the central nervous system, mediate the drug's antiemetic and appetite-stimulant effects. It is indicated for the treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS and for nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional antiemetic treatments. Syndros was the first liquid formulation of dronabinol to receive FDA approval, offering a potentially more consistent bioavailability profile compared to traditional capsule formulations.