Chronic pain affects about 20% of the population worldwide. It is – inadequately – treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory compounds and opioids that lack efficacy and that are associated with serious side effects. The signaling axis composed of nerve growth factor (NGF) and the receptor tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) is one of the few nonopioid targets that have been validated for treating chronic pain in patients.
Clinical data reported by a handful of biopharmas on Dec. 19 sent stocks soaring or plunging, as company leaders laid out next-step plans. Investors showed enthusiasm for Omeros Corp.’s narsoplimab to treat hematopoietic stem cell-transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA), and Roche AG’s Parkinson’s prospect prasinezumab, which is partnered with Prothena Corp. plc.
Gruenenthal GmbH has patented new cis-8-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-8-(dimethylamino)-1,3-diazaspiro[4.5]decan-2-one derivatives acting as nociceptin receptor (OPRL1; KOR3; ORL1) agonists and thus reported to be useful for the treatment of pain.
Oblique Therapeutics AB has achieved a milestone within its research project on the Nav1.8 ion channel with the goal of developing innovative therapeutics for patients with chronic pain.
Researchers at McGill University and Neurasic Therapeutics Inc. have described substituted thiophene fused cyclohexanone derivatives acting as acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1) blockers reported to be useful for the treatment of pain, particularly neuropathic and inflammatory pain.
Eurofarma Laboratórios SA and Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) have jointly patented new sodium channel protein type 9 subunit α (SCN9A; Nav1.7) and/or SCN10A (Nav1.8) blockers reported to be useful for the treatment of pain.
Researchers from Alzecure Pharma AB presented preclinical data for ACD-137, a negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), being developed for the treatment of pain.
Researchers from Merck & Co Inc. have presented preclinical data for the novel Nav1.8 inhibitor MSD-199, being developed for the treatment of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.
Haisco Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd. has discovered sodium channel protein type 10 subunit α (SCN10A; Nav1.8) blockers reported to be useful for the treatment of pain.
