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U-M Researchers Receive $1.8 Million Grant to Develop New Therapy for Neuropathic Pain
Neurologists will use funds to move lab findings into human therapy for
difficult-to-treat condition that involves pain from nerve damage
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Researchers from the
University of Michigan Department of Neurology have received a $1.8 million
grant to develop a novel therapy for neuropathic pain, a difficult-to-treat
condition in which patients experience pain because of damage to nerve
without obvious tissue injury.
In previously published studies, these investigators have found that
gene transfer to sensory nerves using a modified herpes simplex virus-based
vector effectively reduced pain-related behaviors in rodents with nerve
damage caused by trauma or diabetes. A gene transfer vector is an agent
used to carry genes into cells.
The newly awarded grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs will
allow the investigators to produce and certify a human grade vector that
will then be tested in patients with pain from nerve damage resulting from
diabetes.
"This grant will allow us to take the critical step in translating
laboratory findings into human therapy," says principal investigator David
Fink, M.D., Robert Brear professor and chair of the Department of
Neurology. Fink is also a staff neurologist at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare
System.
Fink and his collaborators have previously demonstrated that gene
transfer vectors created from recombinant crippled herpes simplex viruses
can be used to deliver genes to sensory nerves from application in the
skin.
Fink is directing a phase 1 human trial on the first such vector
carrying the gene for human preproenkephalin in patients with intractable
pain from cancer. The second trial will test a vector carrying the gene for
glutamic acid decarboxylase that has proven to be particularly effective in
animal models of neuropathic pain.
"We are very excited to receive this grant," says co-investigator Dr.
Marina Mata, M.D., also a professor of Neurology.
"We routinely create new vectors and produce them in the laboratory for
animal studies, but in order to have a vector that is approved for human
use requires a series of extraordinarily expensive steps. This grant should
allow us to begin the human trial in patients with painful diabetic
neuropathy within two years."
Construction of the vector will be carried out under contract by
Diamyd, Inc. of Pittsburgh, PA. Diamyd is funding the phase 1 trial of the
preproenkephalin vector, and has licensed the patents to the vector
technology.
The researchers believe that the use of HSV vectors holds promise not
only for the treatment of pain but also ultimately for the treatment of
peripheral neuropathy itself.
Fink has received research funding from Diamyd related to the human
trial of the preproenkephalin vector. He has no equity interest in nor any
consulting agreements with Diamyd.
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