Vistagen receives US patent for nonopioid neuropathic pain therapy

The manufacturer of AV-101, an investigational, oral nonopioid, NMDA-targeting therapy to treat neuropathic pain, announced that it has received a U.S. patent for the treatment.

AV-101 (4-Cl-KYN) is an oral prodrug that targets an ionotropic glutamate receptor in the brain, Vistagen said in a press release. Unlike other NMDA receptor antagonists such as ketamine and amantadine, AV-101’s active metabolite, 7-Cl-KYNA, does not act as a traditional ion channel blocker.

In previous clinical and nonclinical tests, AV-101 demonstrated high oral bioavailability, was carried efficiently across the blood-brain barrier, converted to 7-Cl-KYNA in regions of the brain primarily affected by Parkinson’s disease and possessed an “excellent” pharmacokinetic profile, the release said. AV-101 was also well-tolerated, with no serious adverse effects or safety concerns.

Vistagen added that additional evidence suggests AV-101 is associated with fewer adverse events than other nonopioids such as gabapentin and pregabalin, which are approved for pain treatment.

According to the company, its patent will not expire until at least 2034.

“This new patent advances our AV-101 portfolio and significantly strengthens our position for potential collaborative development and commercialization of this clinical-stage product candidate,” Vistagen President and CEO Shawn Singh said in the release. “We look forward to identifying potential partnering opportunities for AV-101 as a non-opioid alternative for pain, as well as dyskinesias and other neurological disorders.”