Treating and Preventing Neuropathic Pain Using Novel Non-Narcotic Analgesics

SLU ID 19-019 | Treatment and prevention of neuropathic pain with P2Y14 antagonists

Background

Neuropathic pain is caused by damage or disease affecting the somatosensory nervous system. It may be associated with abnormal sensations or pain from normally non-painful stimuli. The pain itself often manifests as burning, coldness, "pins and needles" sensations, numbness, or itching. In the United States, about 1 in 3 individuals experience chronic pain of whom roughly 1 in 5 experience chronic pain. Some studies estimate that as much as 15.7 percent of the U.S. population likely has a syndrome with a neuropathic component.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis University have demonstrated that selective P2Y14 antagonists are effective for treating neuropathic pain. They have shown that P2Y14 antagonists given systemically reverse neuropathic pain in a well characterized mouse model of neuropathic pain caused by constriction of the sciatic nerve.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• Increasing the efficacy of treatments for neuropathic pain

• Minimizing the risk of addiction to treatments

• Minimizing adverse affects

Applications

Potential applications of this technology include treating pain associated with various causes such as:

• Herpes zoster infection

• HIV-related neuropathies

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Toxins

• Remote manifestations of malignancies

• Immune mediated disorders

• Physical trauma to a nerve trunk

• Cancer on peripheral nerves

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking partners to further develop and commercialize this technology.