Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies (OCP) has reported promising results from studies testing the efficacy of its lead compound as a treatment for neuropathic pain.
The LSE-listed pharma firm’s OCT461201 compound is being tested in various “translational models” of both neuropathic and visceral pain.
Pre-clinical data has shown that it is well positioned for small fibre neuropathies, the firm reports, as it successfully reduced pain in a model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
In response to the data, the company says its strategy in neuropathic pain is to now focus on a clinical development programme aimed to benefit patients with small fibre neuropathies; such as cancer patients suffering from nerve damage caused by treatment with chemotherapy, and potentially, patients suffering from diabetic neuropathy.
There is an urgent need for new therapies to treat CIPN as there are currently no approved therapies for this condition.
The current standard of care is the off-label use of gabapentinoids and antidepressants drugs , which are associated with serious side effects.
Furthermore, in some cases their overall clinical effectiveness is inadequate, leaving cancer patients in pain, with a reduced quality of life and the prospect of having to change or stop their chemotherapy altogether.
The large unmet medical need in patients suffering from CIPN is estimated to have a global market valued at US$1.61bn in 2020 and forecast to reach US$2.37bn by the year 2027.
OCP believes this could grow to over US$7bn once combined with other small fibre neuropathies.
In addition to CIPN, the company will continue to develop OCT461201 for visceral pain in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Another of its compounds, OCT130401, is a drug-device combination delivering phytocannabinoids to patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia (TN) with a pressurised metered-dose inhaler.
TN causes debilitating and excruciating pain, has a fast and unexpected onset and is difficult to treat with conventional systemic medicines.
OCTP intends to undertake its phase one clinical trials in Q4 2022 involving healthy volunteers in Australia, to “benefit from the experience of local Human Research Ethical Committees, medical institutions, and clinical research organisations in supporting and performing clinical trials”.
The company is currently executing its due diligence process to select a partner contract research organisation to expedite the route to first in human trials.
In addition, it has entered into a five-year agreement with Benuvia Manufacturing Inc.
The company anticipates that it will shortly agree a Statement of Work with Benuvia for the manufacture of the drug-device combination for use in phase 1 clinical trials.
