Chronic pain treatment pipeline could yield innovative alternatives to opioids
![](/46/pdcnewsitem/04/23/96/GBI%20Research.png)
GBI Research’s analyses identifies 129 first-in-class programs in active development.
Although opioids continue to dominate the chronic pain market, adverse events associated with the drug such as the potential for abuse mean the treatment space is rife with unmet needs, which is encouraging pharmaceutical companies to explore innovative alternatives to opioids, according to business intelligence provider GBI Research.
The company’s latest report states that while opioids remain the most effective modes of treatment, their potential for abuse has yet to be addressed, and thus their effectiveness is limited in chronic pain conditions, as they cannot be used for prolonged durations.
Dominic Trewartha, Managing Analyst for GBI Research, states that: “Moderate-to-severe pain has been and continues to be dominated by opioids, which are increasingly being reformulated to offer abuse resistance, whereas mild pain is effectively being treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).
“However, significant unmet needs remain, as chronic pain subtypes – and particularly neuropathic pain – often do not respond well to existing therapies, which do not align well with the underlying molecular pathophysiological causes of pain.”
While the pain therapeutics pipeline is extremely large and diverse, it is characterized by a high overall historic clinical attrition rate for novel analgesics, and a low level of first-in-class innovation.
The active pain pipeline is populated by 810 products across all stages of development, which exhibit a highly diverse range of molecular targets. GBI Research’s analyses identified 129 first-in-class programs in active development, constituting 20% of the pipeline for which there is a disclosed molecular target, and acting on 80 first-in-class molecular targets.
Trewartha explains: “Although this level of innovation is lower than the overall averages for central nervous system disorders and the industry as a whole, this segment of the pipeline nevertheless comprises a diverse range of promising products, which offer significant potential to yield clinical improvement.
“While many companies are following a strategy of developing products with similar mechanisms of action to existing products, there are also many innovative products in the pain pipeline. These first-in-class products reflect a deepening scientific understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of pain, and a growing list of molecules that have been implicated in the initiation of acute pain and progression to a chronic pain state.”
Related News
-
News Ophthalmologic drug product Eylea faces biosimilar threats after FDA approvals
Regeneron Pharmaceutical’s blockbuster ophthalmology drug Eylea is facing biosimilar competition as the US FDA approves Biocon’s Yesafili and Samsung Bioepis/Biogen’s Opuviz. -
News ONO Pharmaceutical expands oncology portfolio with acquisition of Deciphera
ONO Pharmaceutical, out of Japan, is in the process of acquiring cancer-therapy maker Deciphera Pharmaceuticals for US$2.4 billion. -
News First offers for pharma from Medicare drug price negotiations
Ten high-cost drugs from various pharma manufacturers are in pricing negotiations in a first-ever for the US Medicare program. President Biden’s administration stated they have responded to the first round of offers. -
News Eli Lilly’s Zepbound makes leaps and bounds in weight-loss drug market
In the last week, Eli Lilly has announced their partnership with Amazon.com’s pharmacy unit to deliver prescriptions of Zepbound. Zepbound has also surpassed Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy for the number of prescriptions for the week of March 8.&nbs... -
News Chasing new frontiers at LEAP – The National Biotechnology Strategy Keynote
On the third day of LEAP (4–7 March 2024, Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre, Malham, Saudi Arabia) the CPHI Middle East team hosted the Future Pharma Forum, to set the scene for an exciting new event for the pharma community, coming to Riya... -
News Pfizer maps out plans for developing new oncology therapeutics by 2030
Pfizer dilvulges plans to investors around growing their cancer portfolio, and the drugs they will be focusing on developing after their aquisition of Seagen in 2023. -
News Generics threat to Merck’s Bridion as Hikma seeks pre-patent expiry approval
Merck has disclosed they received notice from Hikma Pharmaceuticals for seeking a pre-patent expiry US FDA approval for Hikma’s generic version of Merck’s Bridion. -
News Bernie Sanders vs Big Pharma - the latest on drug price negotiations
In a hearing in front of the US Senate, three of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in America are challenged over exorbitant prescription drug prices, with Sanders claiming their actions are limiting the population's access to affordable healthc...
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance