Opioids are widely used to relieve the pain associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but tolerance and undesired effects often limit their use. EGFR is commonly amplified in oral cancer and its involvement in OSCC-associated pain and opioid tolerance was investigated through the sensitization of trigeminal ganglion cells, which are the main sensory neurons that innervate the face and mouth. For this purpose, they used the EGFR inhibitor AG-1478, which was tested in vitro as well as in in vivo in human OSCC and an orthotopic murine models.
Humanwell Pharmaceutical US Inc. has disclosed prodrugs of somatostatin SST4 receptor agonists described as potentially useful for the treatment of visceral and neuropathic pain.
Voltage-gated sodium channels, particularly Nav1.7, are highly expressed in peripheral sensory neurons and are crucial for pain signal conduction and signal transmission in the spinal dorsal horn. Because of their role in triggering pain, these channels are considered critical targets for analgesics. Systemic inhibition of Nav1.7 has been shown to abolish pain perception.
Jumpcan Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has divulged sodium channel protein type 10 subunit α (SCN10A; Nav1.8) blockers reported to be useful for the treatment of pain.
Chengdu Easton Biopharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. has divulged sodium channel protein type 10 subunit α (SCN10A; Nav1.8) blockers reported to be useful for the treatment of pain, arrhythmia, cough, urinary incontinence and multiple sclerosis.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. has licensed exclusive worldwide rights to TNX-4900 (formerly PW-507) from Rutgers University. TNX-4900 is a highly selective, small-molecule sigma-1 receptor (S1R) antagonist, which has demonstrated analgesic activity in multiple models of neuropathic pain.
Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. and Shanghai Hengrui Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. have divulged aromatic compounds acting as sodium channel protein type 10 subunit α (SCN10A; Nav1.8) blockers reported to be useful for the treatment of pain.
Yichang Humanwell Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has disclosed morphinan derivatives acting as κ-opioid receptor agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of pain and pruritus.