Pain Information
The simple definition of pain is an unpleasant sensation in a specific area of the body. It can ache, stab, pinch, burn, tingle, or throb. It can come and go, stop suddenly, or last for years. It may be caused by an injury, infection, disease, or undetermined factors. Sometimes pain can come from nerves that have been injured or diseased, this is referred to as neuropathic pain.
Effective and safe medications are difficult to develop because neuropathic pain is a complex condition, often involving both the peripheral and central nervous system . In addition, inherent shortcomings in animal research models of neuropathic pain give us an incomplete understanding of the multiple mechanisms underlying its pathophysiology.
People with neuropathic pain are often prescribed multiple medications (polypharmacy) with the understanding that pain relief will be incomplete and quality of life may not be restored. Limitations associated with current medications commonly used to treat neuropathic pain include frequent dosing, undesirable systemic side effects, and unsatisfactory relief. In one study, 81% of elderly patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) reported that they were unsatisfied with their therapy.1
There remains an unmet need for a therapeutic option that specifically provides sustained relief for neuropathic pain while minimizing potential systemic side effects and drug-drug interactions. NeurogesX is focused on addressing this problem.
1Oster G, et al. Use of pain-related medication among elderly persons with post-herpetic neuralgia. Poster presented at: 6th International Conference on the Mechanisms and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain; September 18–20, 2003; San Francisco, CA.