VERNON HILLS, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Winston Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Winston”), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, announced that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded Winston a grant under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program supporting the development of Civamide, a proprietary TRPV-1 receptor modulator, for the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) of the trigeminal nerve (TN). The Phase I award in the amount of approximately $375,000 will be administered by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
“We are extremely pleased by the award of this SBIR grant,” said Joel E. Bernstein, M.D., President and CEO of Winston. “The development of civamide nasal solution for treatment of PHN of the trigeminal nerve could bring relief to many patients suffering with this severe chronic pain. The use of TRPV-1 modulators in treating neuropathic disease is a unique approach in this area, and this SBIR grant gives us an opportunity to further investigate the use of this class of medications. The availability of an effective and safe treatment, i.e., without systemic effects or drug interactions, would fill an important unmet medical need in the treatment of PHN of the TN.”
About Postherpetic Neuralgia of the Trigeminal Nerve
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) of the trigeminal nerve (TN) is a chronic and severely disabling facial neuropathic pain syndrome that follows a Herpes Zoster episode, i.e., a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus commonly known as “shingles.” When the TN is affected, the post-shingles sequelae can include this persistent pain. Currently all approved medications for PHN of the TN are systemically acting drugs, none of which is effective or safe in all patients.
About Civamide Nasal Solution
Civamide, a TRPV-1 modulator, affects the neuropeptide content of neurons and their ability to transmit painful stimuli. Civamide is delivered by a nasal spray to the nasal mucosa, where it exerts its effects locally on mucosal branches of the TN, and is not absorbed systemically. Civamide nasal solution previously received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of PHN of the trigeminal nerve.
About Winston Pharmaceuticals
Winston is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing pain management products for large pain-control markets, as well as on niche markets, where there are still significant needs for pain management options with improved efficacy, safety, and tolerability profiles. Winston’s late-stage product candidates span a range of pain indications, including episodic cluster headache, migraine and tension headache, osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathic pain, cancer pain and pain associated with inflammatory bowel disease.
For information concerning Winston Pharmaceuticals, Inc., please visit the Company’s website at www.winstonlabs.com.
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