Developing new painkillers from a Nobel Prize-winning discovery
When this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine was announced, it was especially good news for AlzeCure in Flemingsberg. This is where a painkiller is being developed based on the breakthrough discovery.
Martin Jönsson, AlzeCure CEO, and Johan Sandin,AlzeCure CSO
This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was shared between David Julius and Ardem Patapoutian. They received the accolade for their discoveries of receptors for temperature and touch. Receptors can be likened to sensors on cells that detect and transmit different signals. Julius is credited with the discovery of a receptor called TRPV1, which is activated by temperatures that are experienced as pain.
“It’s fantastic that these important discoveries by Professor Julius are getting the attention they deserve. The discovery of TRPV1 and its link to pain perception is something we’ve used in our clinical ACD440 programme,” says Johan Sandin, AlzeCure CSO.
Considerable need for new painkillers
In December 2020, AlzeCure launched a preliminary clinical study of its drug candidate, which yielded positive results. The next study is now being prepared to better determine the effect. The need for new painkillers is clear.
“Approximately 80 per cent of patients do not respond satisfactorily to current treatments, so there’s considerable need to develop new painkillers with improved efficacy and a better risk-benefit ratio,” says Martin Jönsson, AlzeCure CEO.
AlzeCure is developing new innovative drug therapies for the treatment of severe conditions that affect the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer’s and pain.
Follow their journey to the launch of a new drug at: www.alzecurepharma.com.
