δ opioid receptor

BERWYN, Pa.--( BUSINESS WIRE )-- Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRPX) (“Virpax” or the “Company”) , a company specializing in developing pharmaceutical products for pain management, announced that it has been granted an extension of its cooperative research and development agreement with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), an institute/center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This collaboration is for the continued development of Virpax’s product candidate, NES100, an intranasal peptide, for the management of acute and chronic non-cancer pain. NES100 is an enkephalin drug product based on a type of nanotechnology delivery approach. Enkephalin is a naturally occurring (endogenous) peptide that is not easily administered in its original form. We believe that the nanotechnology may enable and enhance the delivery of this metabolically labile peptide drug into the brain. NES100 is the first investigational product formulation delivered via the nasal route with the potential to enhance enkephalin transport to the brain. NES100 uses a preassembled device and cartridge to propel the enkephalin formulation through the nose to the brain by flowing along the olfactory nerve pathway. The Molecular Envelope Technology (MET) is designed to protect and help carry the drug to the brain with the goal of promptly suppressing pain by binding to the delta opioid receptors. NES100 has demonstrated analgesic potential in animal models without the development of opioid tolerance, withdrawal, respiratory depression, euphoria, or addiction associated with use of opioids. Jatinder Dhaliwal, Chief Executive Officer of Virpax, commented, "We are excited that this collaboration has been extended with NCATS and the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative as we believe that it may help Virpax develop an effective and safe alternative to conventional opioids used by patients to manage acute and chronic pain. We believe that the NIH/NCATS collaborative agreement will enable our team to maintain momentum in both our pre-clinical and clinical development strategies." About Virpax Pharmaceuticals Virpax is developing branded, non-addictive pain management products candidates using its proprietary technologies to optimize and target drug delivery. Virpax is initially seeking FDA approval for two prescription drug candidates that employ two different patented drug delivery platforms. Probudur™ is a single injection liposomal bupivacaine formulation being developed to manage post-operative pain and Envelta™ is an intranasal molecular envelope enkephalin formulation being developed to manage acute and chronic pain, including pain associated with cancer. Virpax is also using its intranasal Molecular Envelope Technology (MET) to develop one other prescription product candidate, NobrXiol™, which is being developed for the nasal delivery of a pharmaceutical-grade cannabidiol (CBD) for the management of rare pediatric epilepsy. Virpax has competitive cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) for two of its prescription drug candidates, one with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and one with the Department of Defense (DOD). Virpax is also seeking partners for two nonprescription product candidates: AnQlar, which is being developed to inhibit viral replication caused by influenza or SARS-CoV-2, and Epoladerm™, which is a topical diclofenac spray film formulation being developed to manage pain associated with osteoarthritis. For more information, please visit https://www.virpaxpharma.com .and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including those described below. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management’s current beliefs and assumptions. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking expressions, including, but not limited to, “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including the additional capital which will be necessary to complete studies and clinical trials that the Company plans to initiate and other factors listed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q that the Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / October 21, 2024 / NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. (NASDAQ:NLSP)(NASDAQ:NLSPW) (“NLS” or the “Company”), a Swiss clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing therapies for rare and complex central nervous system disorders, is pleased to announce that its Japanese patent application No. 2020-513594 has been granted. The patent covers the use of Mazindol ER (extended-release) for the treatment of heroin dependence, providing a new therapeutic strategy for opioid use disorder. “The development of mazindol as a treatment for substance use disorder could represent a significant breakthrough, offering new hope for patients battling addiction. It is crucial we align our strategy with the evolving landscape of pharmaceutical innovation in this area.” said Alex Zwyer, Chief Executive Officer of NLSP. “This application highlights the continued commitment from NLS to pioneer therapeutic approaches to address significant unmet medical needs.” Key Highlights of this Patent Mazindol ER for Heroin Dependence : Mazindol, a tetracyclic compound with unique pharmacological properties, has shown promising in vivo results in reducing heroin dependence by modulating neurotransmitter systems involved in reward signaling and addiction pathways. The patent protects the use of Mazindol ER as a treatment for opioid addiction, specifically targeting heroin, one of the most potent and addictive opioids. Mechanism of Action : Unlike traditional opioid agonists and antagonists, Mazindol works by indirectly modulating the reward systems of the brain, targeting opioid receptors such as μ-opioid, κ-opioid, and δ-opioid receptors. By influencing these receptors, Mazindol reduces cravings and compulsive drug-seeking behaviors, helping to mitigate the effects of opioid use disorder without inducing the same level of dependence associated with other treatments. Focus on Long-Term Efficacy : The patent includes claims for the sustained-release formulation of Mazindol, which allows for a steady release of the drug over time, improving patient compliance and reducing the risk of relapse. This extended-release formulation is designed to maintain therapeutic levels of the drug in the bloodstream for prolonged periods, providing more consistent symptom management for individuals recovering from heroin addiction. Scientific Basis Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), particularly heroin addiction, poses a significant public health challenge worldwide. Heroin binds strongly to opioid receptors in the brain, leading to intense euphoria followed by physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Traditional treatments often rely on opioid substitution therapies, which can carry their own risks of dependence. Mazindol offers an innovative, non-opioid approach that addresses the brain’s addiction circuitry, potentially reducing the risk of relapse and improving recovery outcomes. The unique effect of Mazindol on heroin dependence lies in its ability to regulate the meso-corticolimbic system, which includes the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens-key regions in the brain’s reward circuitry. By normalizing these pathways, Mazindol helps reduce the compulsive behaviors associated with opioid use disorder, offering hope for individuals struggling with heroin addiction. Appeal Decision in Japan NLS Pharmaceutics successfully appealed the original rejection of its patent application, receiving a favorable decision from the Japan Patent Office (JPO) on October 2, 2024. The granted patent, which includes eight claims, provides robust protection for Mazindol ER and its specific use in treating opioid dependence, particularly heroin addiction. This decision reflects an innovative contribution to addiction medicine and positions Mazindol ER as a potentially transformative treatment for heroin dependence in Japan and beyond. About NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. NLS Pharmaceutics Ltd. is a global development-stage biopharmaceutical company working with internationally recognized scientists and world-class partners to develop innovative therapies for patients with rare and complex central nervous system disorders. Headquartered in Switzerland and founded in 2015, NLS is led by an experienced management team with a track record of successfully developing and commercializing product candidates. For more information, visit . Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to U.S. Federal securities laws. For example, NLS discusses potential benefits of its products and the granted patent. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of NLS management and are subject to numerous factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ. These factors include technology changes, delays or obstacles in launching clinical trials, and the non-approval of NLS products by regulatory agencies. NLS undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release unless required by law. Detailed risk information is included in NLS’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), available at . Contact: Investor Relations Contact InvestorRelations@nls-pharma.com SOURCE: NLS Pharmaceutics AG View the original press release on accesswire.com

MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J.--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Tris Pharma, Inc. (Tris), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), pain, addiction and neurological disorders, today announced that the company will present data from its first-in-class, late-stage investigational pain therapy with a novel mechanism of action, cebranopadol, at the upcoming International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) 2024 World Congress on Pain, taking place August 5-9, 2024, in Amsterdam. “I am inspired to see the rise in interest, funding and research into the development of novel treatment options for the millions of people who suffer daily from debilitating pain that impacts their quality of life,” said Ketan Mehta, founder and CEO at Tris Pharma. “Our team has been working with urgency to advance cebranopadol, a first-in-class investigational pain therapy with a novel mechanism of action, through clinical studies with the goal of offering physicians an effective treatment option that they can confidently prescribe and patients feel is safe. We look forward to collaborating with the pain community at IASP 2024 and sharing our latest findings.” Cebranopadol is the first and only dual nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor and µ-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor (dual-NMR) agonist in development to treat moderate-to-severe pain. Dual-NMR agonist compounds have the potential to deliver gold-standard pain relief with a strong safety profile because they mimic the body’s natural pain-modulation processes by synergizing the analgesic and safety characteristics of the NOP receptor with the analgesic advantages of the MOP receptor. Tris Pharma plans to share important news regarding its Phase 3 clinical trials in the near future. Symposium Highlighting Novel Pain Mechanism Tris Pharma will host a symposium featuring a series of presentations focused on dual-NMR agonists, a promising new mechanism of action in treating pain, and its potential to overcome the shortfalls of opioids for moderate-to-severe pain. The symposium will be presented as part of the congress by leading scientists with extensive experience in the research and development of novel pain therapies. Details of the symposium are as follows: Symposium: Break the Mold in Pain Biology: The Promise of a New Mechanism that May Overcome the Shortfalls of Current Moderate to Severe Pain Medications Presenters: Charles E. Argoff, MD, Albany Medical College; Roberto Ciccocioppo, PhD, University of Camerino; Jeffrey Gudin, MD, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Location: RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre, Elicium I Date and Time: August 6, 12:45 – 1:45 p.m. CEST At IASP 2024 Tris Pharma will be present at Booth #316 where company executives will be available to provide additional information and data presented at the congress. About Cebranopadol (TRN-228) Cebranopadol is the first and only investigational dual nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptor and µ-opioid peptide (MOP) receptor (dual-NMR) agonist for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pain, as well as opioid use disorder (OUD). Cebranopadol offers a first of its kind and novel mechanism of action that takes advantage of the inherent properties of the NOP receptor, which has demonstrated both the potential to lessen the risk of misuse while still providing effective pain relief, and the potential to block drugs of abuse from producing drug-seeking behaviors. The FDA has granted Fast Track Designation to cebranopadol for chronic low back pain. Cebranopadol’s profile has been well-characterized in pain management studies, and if approved, it could become the first and only pain-relief therapy with the demonstrated ability to provide efficacy equivalent to opioids with significantly less risk for misuse or risk of physical dependence, addiction or overdose. About Tris Pharma Tris Pharma is a privately held, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company that is applying its drug development capabilities and proprietary technologies to transform the treatment of ADHD, pain and neurological disorders, including addiction and diseases of the central nervous system. Tris is an established commercial organization with a robust portfolio of best-in-class ADHD products and a promising pipeline of differentiated, near-term drug candidates. More information is available at www.trispharma.com and on LinkedIn @ TrisPharma .