By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

Researchers in Denmark have developed a promising new compound to treat neuropathy that targets the hyper-sensitized nerves that cause chronic pain. The experimental compound – a peptide called Tat-P4-(C5)2 -- has only been tested in mice, but researchers hope to begin clinical trials on humans soon.

"We have developed a new way to treat chronic pain. It is a targeted treatment. That is, it does not affect the general neuronal signaling, but only affects the nerve changes that are caused by the disease," says Kenneth Lindegaard Madsen, PhD, Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen.

"We have been working on this for more than ten years. We have taken the process all the way from understanding the biology, inventing and designing the compound to describing how it works in animals, affects their behaviour and removes the pain.”

Madsen and his colleagues recently published their findings in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine .

The image below shows the compound Tat-P4-(C5)2 after it is injected into the spinal cord. The compound (purple) penetrates the nerve cells of the spinal cord (yellow), but not the surrounding cells (the cell nuclei are blue). The compound blocks neuropathic pain signals – the kind associated with diabetic neuropathy, shingles, phantom limb pain and chemotherapy-induced pain — from being sent to the brain.

In a previous study, the researchers showed in an animal model that use of the compound can also reduce tolerance and the risk of addiction. They believe the compound will be more effective and safer than the anti‐convulsants, antidepressants and opioid medications now used to treat neuropathy.

"The compound works very efficiently, and we do not see any side effects. We can administer this peptide and obtain complete pain relief in the mouse model we have used, without the lethargic effect that characterises existing pain-relieving drugs," said Madsen.

"Now, our next step is to work towards testing the treatment on people. The goal, for us, is to develop a drug, therefore the plan is to establish a biotech company as soon as possible so we can focus on this."