Molecular Nociception Group’s first drug released
9 March 2022
Molecular Nociception Group’s first drug released
At Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê, twenty-five years ago , and cloned a sensory neuronÌý ATP receptor (P2X3) and showed it had a role to play in pain pathways using knock-out mice (1). This fitted well with the research of , then Head of DepartmentÌýof Anatomy, on purines as signalling molecules (2).Ìý P2X3 antagonists were developed for the clinic and pleasingly, a first in class drug was named after Geoff – Gefapixant, by Merck.Ìý Now this drug has been released in Japan as Lyfnua, where it is used to treat chronic cough. Other potential indications in neuropathic pain are being explored. This is a good example of translation from basic science (3).Ìý Further analgesic drugs focused on Nav1.8, a key sodium channel in human pain cloned by the same team, are expected in 2023.
- Chen CC, Akopian AN, Sivilotti L, Colquhoun D, Burnstock G, Wood JN. ÌýNature. 1995 Oct 5;377(6548):428-31. doi: 10.1038/377428a0. PMID: 7566119
- Wood JN. ÌýAuton Neurosci. 2022 Jan;237:102902.