PF14 Inflammatory Pain

Market

Inflammatory pain can result from penetration wounds, burns, extreme cold, fractures, arthritis, autoimmune conditions, excessive stretching, infections, and vasoconstriction. Rheumatoid (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are chronic, debilitating diseases in which pain arises from inflammation. The RA market alone exceeded $11 billion in 2007, and is continuing to grow.

Unmet Need

Though not recommended as a first course of action, opioid drugs Medications made from, artificially developed from, or containing opium, a potent pain-killing substance that is derived from poppy pods. Examples of opioid medications include morphine, codeine and hydrocodone. are commonly prescribed when NSAIDs are ineffective, poorly tolerated, or the inflammatory pain becomes too intense. Physicians are often hesitant to prescribe opioid drugs due to the prominence of abuse, and adverse side effects.

PharmacoFore's Solution

PharmacoFore’s approach involves creating a novel set of peripherally-restricted opioid drugs. By restricting these to the peripheral compartment, central effects, such as euphoria, addiction and sedation, are minimized. We believe most of the side effects of conventional opioid drug therapy could be avoided due to the expected lower opioid doses required to treat inflammatory pain.

Our PF14 program could offer physicians and patients new and improved approaches to managing inflammatory pain.