Peptides Block TRPV1 Nerve Pain Signals

Today's post from enterprise.cam.ac.uk (see link below) is an interesting, though not particularly informative article about Cambridge University research into the TRPV1 pain receptor in the brain (if you have nerve pain, this is your boy!) Apparently, by using certain peptides to block the signal, the TRPV1 receptor doesn't transmit pain signals as it normally does. The great advantage of this breakthrough is that there aren't any side effects which characterise current drug regimes for nerve pain. However, the explanation more or less ends there and the rest of the article is about the research structures and organisations that have helped bring this discovery about. It's once again a question of 'watch this space'.
 

New approach could revolutionise treatment of neuropathic pain
 29th March 2016

University of Cambridge-based research has led to the development of a new approach to the treatment of neuropathic pain, caused by nerve damage. There is a substantial unmet need for neuropathic pain relief, and a breakthrough in this area could revolutionise its treatment. This type of pain is common in diabetics, but also occurs in many other situations, from shingles to cancer.

Led by Professor Peter McNaughton, formerly of the University of Cambridge and now at Kings College London, the project focuses on a novel way of indirectly modulating the effect of the TRPV1, or ‘hot chilli pepper’ receptor, an important initiator of the sensation of pain. The team demonstrated the effectiveness of using certain peptides to interfere with the function of TRPV1, to eliminate neuropathic pain without the critical side effects of other drugs that directly inhibit the receptor. McNaughton first approached Cambridge Enterprise (CE), the commercialisation arm of the University, in 2008. CE assisted him to obtain follow-on funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), as well as Medical Research Council (MRC) Confidence in Concept funding, a fund awarded to projects undertaking preliminary translational work. These efforts culminated in January 2016, when MRC Technology, an independent life science medical research charity that helps bridge the gap between basic research and commercial application, became a collaborator on the project, adding substantial resources and expertise in discovery translation.

The project has been run out of the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst (SBC), a world-class environment for engagement between academia, pharma and biotechnology companies with state of the art facilities, and has been led from the commercial side by Dr David Cavalla, a Senior Consultant at CE. CE has helped McNaughton create the project plan to develop a novel therapeutic, commissioning consultants such as pain clinicians and drug discovery advisors to support McNaughton’s key expertise. CE has also provided ongoing investment and support to help the project develop, including funding two dedicated postdocs, Dr Joan Btesh and Dr Christina Hanack. In the collaboration and licence with MRC Technology, Cambridge Enterprise is providing resource and expertise in target binding assay development and animal models of pain. MRC Technology is providing resource and expertise in drug discovery. The project is currently early stage and the collaboration with CE will support its later stage commercialisation.

This project was the first Cambridge translational therapeutic project to be based at the SBC, which provides a number of benefits, including the use of its lab equipment and animal facilities of the global healthcare company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). Direct industry advice on specific aspects of the project is being provided through consultancy work from GSK staff throughout CE. GSK has no commercial rights to the project. Although McNaughton now works at Kings College London, an arrangement is in place to ensure this project remains part of the University of Cambridge.

http://www.enterprise.cam.ac.uk/case-studies/new-approach-could-revolutionise-treatment-of-neuropathic-pain/