Latigo Biotherapeutics Reports Positive Phase 1 Results for Non-Opioid Pain Candidate, Appoints Neil Singla as CMO

Latigo Biotherapeutics Inc. recently announced promising Phase 1 trial results for LTG-001, a non-opioid pain medication that could potentially become a leading solution in pain management. The company also appointed Dr. Neil Singla, a prominent figure in analgesic science, as its new Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Singla's expertise in pain management and clinical development is expected to accelerate Latigo's pipeline of non-opioid pain treatments, presenting a significant step towards addressing the opioid crisis.

The Phase 1 clinical trial of LTG-001 involved 72 healthy participants and demonstrated that the drug was well tolerated, with rapid absorption. LTG-001 is an oral, selective inhibitor of Nav1.8, aimed at treating both acute and chronic pain at its source. The trial showed a Tmax of approximately 1.5 hours, indicating a rapid onset of pain relief, which is crucial for effective pain management. There was no significant food effect observed across the studied doses. This trial was designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, bioavailability, and food effect of LTG-001 compared to a placebo.

CEO Nima Farzan emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that the results boost confidence in the direction of the company’s clinical program for LTG-001. Latigo aims to develop non-opioid drugs that promise meaningful efficacy, rapid action, and superior safety without central nervous system effects, thereby minimizing addiction risks.

The appointment of Dr. Neil Singla as Chief Medical Officer is a strategic move for Latigo. Dr. Singla, a well-regarded expert in analgesic protocol design and implementation, founded Lotus Clinical Research, a leading site and organization for clinical research in analgesics. His contributions to pain management studies, particularly in minimizing variability in clinical trials, have been pivotal. Dr. Singla's innovative methodologies, including novel patient education techniques that reduce placebo responses and enhance trial outcomes, have set new standards in the field.

Dr. Singla's leadership is expected to be instrumental in advancing Latigo's mission to provide effective non-opioid pain therapies. His work in developing the abdominoplasty model for acute postoperative pain studies has become a benchmark for new drug approvals. He is actively involved in the scientific community, chairing the Clinical Trials Special Interest Group for the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and organizing key symposia on analgesic trials.

The opioid crisis remains a major public health issue in the United States, with millions affected by opioid addiction. Statistics indicate that a significant percentage of opioid users develop chronic dependency, and many who use illicit opioids began with prescription opioids. This crisis is exacerbated by the high number of opioid prescriptions and the subsequent misuse and transition to dangerous illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl. Annual deaths from opioid overdoses are alarmingly high, emphasizing the urgent need for safer pain management alternatives.

Latigo Biotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing non-opioid pain medicines that directly target the source of pain. Supported by leading investors, the company aims to provide rapid-acting pain relief without the risk of addiction. Their innovative approach to pain management holds promise as an effective solution to the opioid epidemic, offering safer alternatives for patients in need.

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