AmacaThera Begins Human Study of AMT-143 for Non-opioid Post-operative Pain Treatment

AmacaThera Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company in Toronto, has initiated a critical phase in its development by administering AMT-143, its leading non-opioid acute pain management asset, to the first human subject. This significant milestone is part of the company's efforts to revolutionize post-operative pain relief.

AMT-143 is a novel slow-release anesthetic designed to provide extended pain relief after surgery. The drug utilizes AmacaGel, AmacaThera's proprietary technology platform, which has been engineered to deliver the anesthetic over an extended period. This trial marks the first instance where the AmacaGel platform is used in conjunction with an active pharmaceutical ingredient, as previous tests involved the platform alone.

The study aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy of combining the AmacaGel platform with a well-established anesthetic compound. The positive outcome of this trial could potentially lead to a significant reduction in the need for opioid-based pain relief following surgeries. AMT-143 is intended to be applied directly to the surgical incision site, providing localized pain control.

Dr. Mike Cooke, CEO and Co-Founder of AmacaThera, emphasized the importance of this study, stating, "A successful outcome will be data demonstrating the safety of our asset and release kinetics showing sustained release longer than competitive products. There is a real need for products that provide longer relief than those currently available on the market."

The technology underlying AMT-143 was initially developed in the laboratory of Dr. Molly Shoichet, the company's Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder, at the University of Toronto. Dr. Shoichet noted, "My laboratory has demonstrated compatibility of AmacaGel with a wide range of therapeutics – from cells to biologics. With this study, our goal is to provide human data on our technology that will help advance AMT-143 to the clinic. At the same time, we are building out the platform technology so that it can be leveraged for other local-release therapeutics."

AmacaThera's broader mission focuses on developing advanced sustained release hydrogel formulations to address key therapeutic delivery challenges. The company's technology, AmacaGel, is a fast-gelling hydrogel that liquefies under shear force for easy delivery via a conventional syringe. Once injected, it quickly forms a depot at the site as it warms to body temperature, ensuring controlled release of the encapsulated therapeutic agents.

In addition to AMT-143, AmacaThera is developing an internal pipeline of pain management and oncology assets. The company also seeks partnerships to tackle delivery challenges with innovative therapeutic modalities.

The trial of AMT-143 represents a crucial step towards providing a new, non-opioid solution for post-operative pain management. With the potential to extend pain relief beyond current market offerings, AMT-143 could significantly impact patient recovery and pain management protocols.

AmacaThera continues to advance its research and development efforts, aiming to bring innovative therapeutic solutions to the clinic and improve patient outcomes.