Biovitrum Initiates Phase II Clinical Trial of Novel Pain Treatment
Biovitrum examines a novel method for treating pain in a phase II clinical trial. The treatment aims at neuropathic pain, which is a chronic form of pain resulting from nerve injuries. Contrary to current treatments that act in the brain, Biovitrum's substance is expected to act peripherally, directly in the injured nerve. There is a very large unmet medical need in this area. The market is estimated to approximately SEK 18 billion. The study is expected to include up to 300 patients and results are expected during the first half of 2008.
The drug candidate presently tested is a substance that activates a protein (adenosine receptor 2A) that, among other things, is responsible for reducing inflammations. The substance is expected to have a pain-alleviating effect by reducing inflammation directly in the damaged nerve whereas available treatments mainly are represented by drugs acting in the brain. The efficacy of these drugs is limited and the risk is high for side effects such as dizziness, nausea and somnolence. As Biovitrum's substance acts at the site of injury peripherally in the body, the risk is reduced for this type of side effects related to the central nervous system. This therefore represents a novel treatment with both reduced risk of side effects and the potential for analgesic as well as anti-inflammatory effects.
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