New ‘Spicy’ Pain Reliever

New ‘Spicy’ Pain Reliever hasFDA Fast Track Designation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given “fast track” designation to an injectable pain reliever containing a synthetic form of capsaicin.  Capsaicin is the active ingredient that makes chili peppers spicy.

First Use of Capsaicin as Analgesic

The move speeds the development of CNTX-4975 as a treatment for Morton’s neuroma, a painful nerve disorder of the foot. If clinical trials are successful and it gains full FDA approval, it would be the first use of capsaicin in an injectable analgesic. Capsaicin is already used in skin patches and topical ointments for temporary pain relief.

Morton’s neuroma involves a thickening of the tissue around a nerve leading to the toes, which causes sharp, burning pain in the foot, especially when walking.  The current standard of treatment is steroid injections or surgery to remove the nerve. The surgery often results in permanent numbness in the toes and a potentially long recovery period.

Helping Patients Avoid Surgery 

The Fast Track designation is recognition that we are pursuing an unmet need for a serious condition.  This novel therapy has the potential to help patients avoid surgery.  It means patients can avoid the potential complications and recovery associated with surgery, while still achieving the pain relief they are seeking, said Jim Campbell, MD., founder and President of Centrexion Therapeutics, which is developing the drug.

There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for Morton’s neuroma. The agency’s Fast Track process is designed to speed the review of drugs to fill an unmet medical need.

Novel Non-Opioid Therapy

The FDA is encouraging development of novel non-opioid therapies, like CNTX-4975. As a non-opioid, we believe it could have a major impact in the treatment of chronic pain.”  Centrexion is also studying CNTX-4975 as a possible treatment for osteoarthritis in both humans and dogs.