PN6047 – a unique mode of action

PharmNovo’s mission is to discover new, safe, and effective drugs to help patients suffering from neuropathic pain. We combine innovative chemistry and bioscience to discover new treatments for neuropathic pain and other diseases of the nervous system.

Our drug candidate PN6047 is an agonist, a  drug that binds to and activates a specific receptor. It is a potent, carefully developed, small molecule that selectively activates the delta (δ) opioid receptor (DOR).

PN6047 does not, like conventional opioids, affect the mu (μ) opioid receptor, which is known to provide adequate relief for acute pain, but also causes addiction and severe side effects, such as  respiratory depression, abuse potential, itching and constipation.

Activating the delta receptor does not provide acute pain relief - but it produces an excellent reversal of neuropathic pain in animal models.

The approach of  activating the delta receptor is entirely new. The underlying concept is to specifically activate the beneficial parts of the system while avoiding the type of activation that results in unwanted side effects.