Experimental pill targets nerve pain pathway, cutting opioid use after abdominal surgery
Opioids can be highly effective at relieving moderate to severe pain, whether it comes from surgery, an injury or conditions such as cancer. They work by activating opioid receptors in the brain and body, which block pain signals and reduce the feeling of pain. These benefits also come with a serious downside. Opioid misuse and abuse have become a major public health problem worldwide.
A recent clinical trial explored a new non-opioid pain medication, LTG-001, developed by Latigo Biotherapeutics. This experimental pill targets a specific nerve pain pathway, aiming to reduce opioid use following abdominal surgery. Opioids provide effective pain relief but carry risks of misuse, addiction, and overdose. Scientists identified Nav1.8, a sodium channel in the peripheral nervous system, as a potential drug target due to its role in transmitting pain signals.
LTG-001, an oral drug, inhibits Nav1.8 more effectively than earlier attempts, with the potential to block pain signals at their source.
In a Phase IIb trial involving 343 adults aged 18-65 who had undergone lower abdominal surgery, participants received either LTG-001 or a placebo. The drug was administered in two doses – a low dose of 300mg initially, followed by 150mg every 12 hours, and a high dose of 450mg initially, followed by 300mg every 12 hours. Additionally, participants received a standard opioid painkiller or a placebo.
Over 48 hours, both LTG-001 doses significantly reduced pain compared to the placebo. The high-dose group experienced an average pain reduction score of 185.30, outperforming the low-dose group (161.05) and other treatment groups. Importantly, the high-dose group achieved meaningful pain relief within an hour of treatment, faster than the standard opioid group (82.8 minutes) and the placebo group (87.5 minutes).
Moreover, 52% of the high-dose group required no additional opioid rescue, compared to only 22% of the placebo group. While LTG-001's effects were somewhat comparable to hydrocodone-acetaminophen, the two drugs were not directly compared. If further trials confirm LTG-001's safety and efficacy, it could provide an alternative for managing postsurgical pain without reliance on opioids.
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