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CNSB015 at Third International Congress on Neuropathic Pain in Athens, Greece

Relevare Pharmaceuticals Ltd. presented results for CNSB015 (flupirtine), at the Third International Congress on Neuropathic Pain on May 27 -30 in Athens, Greece, which we visited. Flupirtine belongs to the class of aminopyridines, like fampyridine used in MS, and is a centrally acting nonopioid analgesic. It is on the market in Europe since 1984 under the names Katadolon and Trancolong. It is a non-opioid, non-NSAID, non-steroidal analgesic. Flupirtine therefore is an already established clinical analgesic for musculoskeletal pain.

It has recently been shown to be a KCNQ2-3 potassium channel opener. In animal painmodels flupirtine increases morphine antinociception without causing an increase in sedation and is considered as an adjunct analgesic with opioids for the management of neuropathic pain. ^[1]^[2]

The data in Athens from an open study indicate clinically relevant improvements for the patients involved in the study in terms of both pain relief and quality of life when flupirtine was given as an adjunct to opioids. Flupirtine is prescribed in combination with opioids for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The results given originated from a recently completed 12-month open-label extension study. The results of the double blind study is unknown to us, which is a bit odd.

The compound works by opening potassium channels in the spinal cord and thus reducing rthe intensity of pain signals.

Mark Blumling, Managing Director of Relevare Pharmaceuticals said:

"Flupirtine has been used safely as an analgesic in Germany for over 20 years, and we are pleased with the results of this extension study, which focused on the hard to treat area of painful HIV neuropathy."

Jan M. Keppel Hesselink, MD, PhD

Referenties

[1]: Goodchild CS, Kolosov A, Tucker AP, Cooke I. | Combination therapy with flupirtine and opioid: studies in rat pain models. | Pain Med. | 2008 Oct;9(7):928-38.

[2]: Friedel HA, Fitton A. | Flupirtine. A review of its pharmacological properties, and therapeutic efficacy in pain states. | Drugs. | 1993 Apr;45(4):548-69.