What is Pain?
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, or disease. Or its cause may be undetermined.
At NeurogesX, we are concerned with treating chronic pain—pain that persists for weeks, months or even a lifetime, often with debilitating consequences to patients and high economic costs to communities. Common types of chronic pain include arthritis, cancer, migraine headaches, lower back pain, and neuropathic pain.
Neuropathic pain is one of the most challenging medical conditions to treat. 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, there are inherent shortcomings in animal research models that make it challenging to completely understand the multiple mechanisms that lead to its pathophysiology. For the millions of people living with neuropathic pain, treatment options are limited and associated with the risk of systemic side effects.
People with neuropathic pain are typically prescribed multiple medications with the understanding that their pain relief will not be complete and their quality of life may not be restored. Current medications require frequent dosing, are associated with undesirable systemic side effects, and provide unsatisfactory relief. In one recent study, 81% of elderly patients with postherpetic neuralgia reported that they were unsatisfied with their therapy.1
There remains a need for a therapeutic option developed specifically for neuropathic pain that provides sustained relief while minimizing the potential for systemic side effects and drug-drug interactions. NeurogesX is currently investigating such a potential product—NGX-4010.
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.