June 2018: DermaXon received a Phase 1 STTR Grant funding from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to support preclinical efficacy studies for a novel drug treatment for pain.
This award titled “Topical selective T-type blockers for the treatment of neuropathic pain” provides critical support of a research project which examines the efficacy of DermaXon’s technology platform for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. This award has the potential to increase to $1.5 million, if the Phase 1 project is successful. Therapeutic activity of the antineoplastic agent paclitaxel is impaired by significant occurrence of sensory neuropathy resulting in treatment delay, dose modification, and in severe cases, discontinuation of the treatment impacting patient outcome. Our objective in this proposal is to design and deliver topically calcium channel blockers that will decrease abnormal neuronal hyperactivity and, examine their potential as novel therapeutic agents to treat paclitaxel-induced neuropathy.