Adlea (ALGRX-4975), an injectable capsaicin (TRPV1 receptor agonist) formulation for longlasting pain relief.

Abstract

Anesiva Inc is developing Adlea (ALRGX-4975) - an injectable preparation of capsaicin, a TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily 1) receptor agonist - for the potential management of pain associated with osteoarthritis, tendonitiand postsurgical conditions, as well as for neuropathic pain occurring secondary to nerve injury. Adlea functions by desensitizing those neurons that conduct a long-lasting, throbbing form of pain. In phase II clinical trials, a single injection of Adlea significantly reduced pain levels in patients following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or bunionectomy, and reduced pain in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or Morton's neuroma. Phase II trials are ongoing to test Adlea in patients who are undergoing total hip arthroplasty or arthroscopic shoulder surgery and in patients with knee OA. Phase III clinical trials for the compound have been slated to begin in 2008 in patients following TKA or bunionectomy. Adlea appears to exhibit promise as a new medication in the treatment of conditions of chronic neuropathic pain.