David Finn

Professor of pharmacology and therapeutics

Role in PharmNovo: Scientific advisor.

University: Galway Neuroscience Centre.

Resumé: David Finn is Professor of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Science Foundation Ireland Principal Investigator and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Centre for Pain Research (link) at the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway. Professor Finn graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Biotechnology from NUI Galway in 1997 and a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Bristol in 2001. From 2001 to 2004, Professor Finn worked as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Neuroscience, University of Nottingham. In 2004, he was appointed to a Lectureship in the Department of Physiology, NUI Galway, and to a Personal Professorship in Pharmacology and Therapeutics in 2014. Professor Finn’s research focuses on the understanding of the neurobiology and treatment of pain and psychiatric disorders including anxiety and depression.

Professor Finn is Past-President of the Irish Pain Society and is currently President-Elect of the International Cannabinoid Research Society. He is also a member of the Task Forces of both the International Association for the Study of Pain and the European Pain Federation on Cannabis and Cannabinoids for Chronic Pain, and he sits on the Scientific Advisory Panel of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology as well as the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Psychopharmacology, Brain Research and Frontiers in Neuropharmacology (link).

Member of:

Pain

Latest news

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July 8, 2025

Breaking new ground in pain management

Breaking new ground in pain management In the latest episode of BioBizBuzz, PharmNovo CEO Per von Mentzer sits down with host Mike Ward to discuss how we’re tackling one of modern medicine’s most urgent challenges: finding effective, non-addictive treatments for chronic and neuropathic pain. The conversation highlights the development of our lead candidate PN6047, a selective delta-opioid receptor agonist designed to deliver strong pain relief without the addiction risks or sedation associated with traditional opioids. Per shares insights into the scientific rationale, clinical potential, and why neuropathic pain—often caused by nerve damage from conditions like diabetes or chemotherapy—demands new thinking. For anyone interested in neuroscience, biotech innovation, or the future of pain management, this episode offers a glimpse into what could become a paradigm shift in treatment. Listen to the full episode here:

July 1, 2025

CTA submission for PN6047

PharmNovo AB is pleased to announce that the clinical trial application (CTA) for a Phase IIa proof of concept (PoC) study investigating the safety and efficacy of lead candidate PN6047 in patients with neuropathic pain has been submitted in Spain. The full title of the application is: “Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Trial of the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of PN6047 HCl in Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Characterized by Mechanical Allodynia.” Based on a strategic company decision, PharmNovo has submitted the CTA, in the first instance, to the Spanish Health Authorities only. Submission to the Czech Republic and Poland, the two other countries in which the trial will be conducted, is planned to take place following approval in Spain, which is expected by October 2025. Subject to additional investment, patient enrolment is expected to start by Quarter 1 2026.

PharmNovo at the LSX World Congress in London

May 19, 2025

PharmNovo at the LSX World Congress in London

Take the opportunity to listen to Per von Mentzer, CEO, presenting PN6047 at the LSX World Congress in April 2025 in London. PharmNovo is redefining pain management with PN6047, a first-in-class Delta Opioid Receptor Agonist (DORA), safer, non-addictive solution for neuropathic pain. Unlike traditional opioids, PN6047 eliminates concerns of side effects, abuse potential, and tolerance. With a proven safety profile from Phase I trials and a market projected to exceed EUR 13 billion by 2033, PN6047 is set to be a game-changer.

March 12, 2025

Positive FDA feedback for PN6047

PharmNovo has received positive and constructive feedback from the FDA for its lead drug candidate, PN6047, a selective delta opioid receptor agonist aimed at treating peripheral neuropathy with allodynia. Following a successful pre-IND meeting in January 2025, the FDA provided valuable guidance on the Phase IIa study design and had no critical comments on the CMC or non-clinical data. This paves the way for IND submission by the end of 2025 and a Phase IIa clinical trial application in Europe (Spain, Poland, Czech Republic) by Q3 2025.