Concentric Analgesics Reports Two Weeks of Pain Relief and Reduced Opioid Use in Surgeries

Concentric Analgesics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in novel non-opioid pain treatments, recently presented promising clinical data for their lead product candidate, vocacapsaicin, at the 2024 International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) World Congress in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The poster presentation titled "TRPV1 from Bench to Bedside: Vocacapsaicin Produces Durable Postsurgical Analgesia and Earlier Opioid Cessation" showcased results from Phase 2 trials involving patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and bunionectomy.

Vocacapsaicin is an innovative, water-soluble prodrug of capsaicin. When administered locally during surgery, it rapidly releases capsaicin at the surgical site, activating the TRPV1 receptor on pain-specific nerves. The activation of TRPV1 receptors provides long-lasting analgesia without causing sensory numbness or motor weakness, distinguishing it from local anesthetics like bupivacaine, which have shorter durations and lead to numbness and weakness.

Both trials demonstrated significant reductions in opioid usage and earlier cessation of opioid use. In the bunionectomy trial, patients who received an effective dose of vocacapsaicin stopped using opioid analgesics by the fifth day post-surgery. In contrast, 16% of patients in the placebo group still required opioids, with half continuing use at the end of the two-week study period. These differences were statistically significant. Similarly, in the TKA trial, 50% more patients in the placebo group continued using opioids two weeks post-surgery compared to those in the vocacapsaicin group, also a statistically significant finding.

These findings come against a backdrop of growing concerns about opioid dependence and abuse. Persistent opioid use beyond five days is a key risk factor for dependency. The recent enactment of the Non-Opioids Prevent Addiction in the Nation (NO PAIN) Act by the U.S. Congress, to be implemented in January 2025, aims to expand access to non-opioid pain management options by addressing reimbursement barriers for the Medicare population.

Experts in the field have expressed optimism about vocacapsaicin's potential. Harold Minkowitz, M.D., President of Analgesics, Perioperative & Hospital Based Research at HD Research LLC, emphasized the unique mechanism of vocacapsaicin that allows for prolonged pain relief and earlier opioid discontinuation. Edwin Su, M.D., Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery and Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, highlighted the importance of these findings for pain management following joint replacement surgeries. He noted that the reduction in opioid consumption was associated with earlier ambulation, quicker recovery, and potentially fewer hospital readmissions.

John Donovan, M.D., Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Concentric Analgesics, noted that vocacapsaicin received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA in 2018 for its potential to reduce opioid usage. The ongoing studies are furthering understanding of how vocacapsaicin can impact opioid reliance post-surgery, laying the groundwork for Phase 3 trials.

Concentric Analgesics continues to advance its portfolio of non-opioid pain therapeutics. The company is planning Phase 3 studies for vocacapsaicin and is also developing additional programs targeting osteoarthritis pain and chronic refractory pain. With its promising clinical data and innovative approach, Concentric aims to bring effective non-opioid pain relief options to patients and address the critical public health issue of opioid dependence.