Teva,Xenon: First Patient Enrolled In Phase 2b Study Evaluating TV-45070 For PHN

(RTTNews) - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) and Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (XENE) announced that the first patient has been enrolled into the Phase 2b study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel topically applied TV-45070, (4% and 8% w/w Ointment) in patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia or PHN.

TV-45070 is a small molecule inhibitor of the sodium channel Nav1.7 and other sodium channels, including those that are expressed in the pain-sensing peripheral nervous system. It is being developed for the treatment of patients with various pain indications, including neuropathic and osteoarthritis pain.

The Phase 2b clinical study in PHN is a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, multi-site study that will evaluate the safety and efficacy of topically applied TV-45070 ointment compared with placebo.

PHN is a painful complication of Herpes Zoster or "shingles" in which pain persists for more than 3 months after resolution of the rash. It affects approximately 20% of people who have herpes zoster and increases with age. Elderly patients tend to have more severe and longer lasting PHN. Despite the numerous compounds available for treating PHN, 40% to 50% of PHN patients do not respond to any treatment.

The negative impact of PHN on the quality of life can be similar to that caused by life-threatening diseases or serious psychological conditions. PHN can have a significant effect on many aspects of a patient's life, causing chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, difficulty in concentrating, depression and anxiety, anorexia, loss of bodyweight and social isolation.