Therapeutic focus

MEDICAL OVERVIEW

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Therapeutic focus » Medical overview

Superior properties treating neuropathic pain

PharmNovo aims to develop novel drugs with superior clinical properties to treat patients with neuropathic pain using our knowledge and experience in drug design and G protein-coupled receptor pharmacology. Our specific pharmacological target is the delta opioid receptor (DOR).

Chronic neuropathic pain can occur after trauma or from some diseases, including viral infection,  and diabetes, resulting in pain that does not resolve. This kind of pain has no survival value and, indeed, results in a real reduction in sufferers’ quality of life.

PharmNovo’s primary goal is to target the multiple disease areas of chronic neuropathic pain and the commonly associated conditions of anxiety and depression. However, there are other evidence-based therapeutic targets, including post-surgical and cancer pain, migraine, pruritus (itch) and chronic cough. These disease areas have mechanistic commonalities susceptible to the company’s novel approach to drug discovery.

PharmNovo’s development strategy initially focuses on sensory hypersensitivity conditions, such as neuropathic pain with mechanical allodynia  which is a   hard-to-treat component I of many  neuropathic pain states. This condition can be studied clinically with more objective measures (quantitative sensory testing)  in addition to the commonly applied subjective approaches (patient-reported outcomes) used in trials of other chronic pain medicines.

Neuropathic pain

  • Neuropathic pain, also called nerve pain, occurs when a health condition affects the nerves that carry sensations to your brain.
  • Neuropathic pain is characterized by abnormal hypersensitivity to stimuli, including  allodynia, a condition in which pain is caused by a stimulus that does not usually elicit pain.
  • Neuropathic pain is caused by damage or disease affecting the sensory system. About 30% of all neuropathic pain happens because of diabetes.
  • Neuropathic pain is usually chronic; the body just sends pain signals to your brain unprompted. Neuropathic pain tends to get worse over time.
  • Most of the available treatments for neuropathic pain have only moderate efficacy and produce side effects that limit their use; therefore, there is a great need for new therapeutic approaches.

Latest news

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October 3, 2023

Phase I study completed for PN6047

In August 2022, PharmNovo initiated the First-In-Human, (FIH), clinical study for the company’s drug candidate PN6047, aimed at evaluating its safety and tolerability. By August 2023, the study was completed, involving 104 subjects across 13 cohorts, which included both Single Ascending Dose (SAD) and Multiple Ascending Dose (MAD) cohorts. Each cohort consisted of 8 subjects, with 6 receiving active treatment and 2 receiving placebo.

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October 3, 2023

PharmNovo presented at the BioStock Investor Meeting

PharmNovo participated at the BioStock Investor Meeting in Stockholm on September 20. Our CEO presented the development and phase I clinical study of our drug candidate PN6047, which is in its final phase.

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September 28, 2023

No abuse potential shown in preclinical studies

We are delighted to share promising preclinical results for our innovative drug candidate PN6047, further confirming its safety profile. PN6047 is designed to provide relief from neuropathic pain, and these findings reinforce our commitment to safe and effective pain management as we prepare for Phase II trials in 2024.

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September 10, 2023

Latest progress from PharmNovo at EFIC

PharmNovo will participate in the 13th Congress of the European Pain Federation, EFIC, in Budapest from 20-22 September. The EFIC Congress is the largest international congress on pain.

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