Using Gene Therapy To Relieve Neuropathic Pain

Today's post from newsmax.com (see link below) revisits a story reported earlier on this blog about the new non-viral gene-therapy called VM202, which can potentially reduce neuropathic pain in ways that standard medications currently can only dream of. To reiterate, the study showed that just two low doses of VM202 produced pain relief lasting for months, with the added bonus of no side effects. The article explains what VM202 is but doesn't tell us how widely it's used at the moment; whether it's still in the testing stages, or whether it's available to the main population of neuropathy patients. Maybe your area, or country is carrying out trials as you read this and maybe you can get onto those but until things are much clearer, the best you can do is discuss it with your doctor or neurologist and ensure that they are aware of both the option and the potential of this treatment.

New Gene Therapy Eases Diabetes-Related Pain
Thursday, 05 Mar 2015 By Nick Tate

Northwestern University geneticists have developed a promising new gene therapy technique that helps those who suffered from painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN).

The study, published in the journal Annals of Clinical and Translation Neurology, found that two low dose rounds of a non-viral gene therapy called VM202 greatly eased the pain in people with PDN and the relief lasted for months.

"Those who received the therapy reported more than a 50 percent reduction in their symptoms and virtually no side effects," said lead researcher Jack Kessler, a professor in the department of pharmacology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "Not only did it improve their pain, it also improved their ability to perceive a very, very light touch."

VM202 contains human hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene, a naturally occurring protein in the body that acts on nerve cells to keep them alive, healthy, and functioning.
 
Keith Wenckowski, one of the 84 participants in the study who suffers from PDN, said walking barefoot on sand "felt like walking on glass" because of the condition — forcing him to wear shoes, even to the beach.

But Wenckowski said the VM202 therapy significantly eased his pain.

"I can now go to a beach and walk on the sand without feeling like I am walking on glass," he said.

There is not existing treatment for PDN, which affects up to 25 percent of diabetics. Patients with the condition have abnormally high levels of glucose in their blood that can be toxic to vital organs, tissues, and nerve cells.

Painkillers and other medications can alleviate symptoms, but carry undesirable side effects.

"We are hoping that the treatment will increase the local production of hepatocyte growth factor to help regenerate nerves and grow new blood vessels and therefore reduce the pain," said Senda Ajroud-Driss, M.D., associate professor in neurology at Feinberg and an attending physician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

"We found that the patients who received the low dose had a better reduction in pain than the people who received the high dose or the placebo."

© 2015 NewsmaxHealth. All rights reserved.

http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Health-News/gene-therapy-diabetes-neuropathy/2015/03/05/id/628524/