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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December 1, 2023

NIDA funds studies

The US National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) has funded a project investigating the drug candidate PN6047, a novel and highly selective Delta Opioid Receptor Agonist (DORA), represents a unique approach to addressing this medical challenge.

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October 18, 2023

Phase IIa studies with WCT

Following the successful completion of our phase I study, we are pleased to announce our collaboration with WCT, Worldwide Clinical Trials, as the phase IIa study of our drug candidate PN6047. This partnership underscores our commitment to developing solutions for neuropathic pain. In the upcoming phase IIa study, PharmNovo will investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of their drug candidate PN6047 for individuals affected by neuropathic pain and experiencing Mechanical Allodynia. This distressing symptom, caused by nerve injury, often disrupts daily life and sleep. PN6047 offers a targeted approach to alleviate this condition, aiming to improve the overall pain experience. Insights on its efficacy will aid in designing subsequent phase IIb/III studies.

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October 18, 2023

Meet Jesper Kjerulff, Chief operations officer and Global project lead

In the pharmaceutical development arena, experts like Jesper Kjerulff stand out. As Global project lead and Chief operations officer (COO) of PharmNovo, Jesper Kjerulff is instrumental in propelling the company's groundbreaking project, PN6047, and advancing the field of neuropathic pain management.

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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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