Pain & Central Nervous System Week - Nov. 20, 2006
2006 NOV 20 - (NewsRx.com) -- Anesiva, Inc., (ANSV) announced that it has commenced phase I clinical testing of product candidate 1207, a new topical local anesthetic for the potential treatment of numerous pain conditions, including neuropathic pain.
The study, designed to assess the safety of 1207, will enroll 24 adult healthy male volunteers in up to six dose-escalating cohorts in Australia. In addition to safety data, the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will measure sensory perceptions of touch and warmth following a single topical administration of 1207 compared with placebo.
"Preclinical data suggest that 1207 could offer rapid and deep-penetrating relief as a topical treatment for neuropathic pain, or potentially for surgical incision pain prior to dermatological surgery," said Daniel J. Gennevois, MD, vice president of medical affairs at Anesiva. "With 1207 entering the clinic, we now have three novel products in various stages of advanced development, each of which offers the promise to address significant unmet medical needs in the pain market."
1207 is a new chemical entity with novel anesthetic properties that provide pain relief by binding to the fast sodium channel on neurons responsible for transmitting pain signals from nerve endings to the brain. Specifically, 1207 binds to the fast sodium channel on both A nerve fibers responsible for transmitting immediate "adaptive pain" signals and C nerve fibers responsible for transmitting longer-term, dull, aching throbbing pain signals.
By interrupting the communication channel of both A fibers and C fibers, 1207 is designed to provide effective topical pain relief with a faster onset and longer duration of action than currently marketed pain products. In preclinical testing, topical administration of 1207 demonstrated a long duration of action and deep, rapid penetration. Other potential applications for 1207 include pre-procedural use in dermatological surgery and post-surgical incision pain.
This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
