An extract of phase II and III trials on recent developments in managing neuropathic pain syndromes: diabetic peripheral neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, and postherpetic neuralgia

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Neuropathic pain (NP) conditions involve lesions to the somatosensory nervous system leading to chronic and debilitating pain. Many patients suffering from NP utilize pharmacological treatments with various drugs that seek to reduce pathologic neuronal states. However, many of these drugs show poor efficacy as well as cause significant adverse effects. Because of this, there is a major need for the development of safer and more efficacious drugs to treat NP.

Areas covered

In this review, we analyzed current treatments being developed for a variety of NP conditions. Specifically, we sought drugs in phase II/III clinical trials with indications for NP conditions. Various databases were searched including Google Scholar, PubMed, and clinicaltrials.gov.

Expert opinion

All the mentioned targets for treatments of NP seem to be promising alternatives for existing treatments that often possess poor side effect profiles for patients. However, gene therapy potentially offers the unique ability to inject a plasmid containing growth factors leading to nerve growth and repair. Because of this, gene therapy appears to be the most intriguing new treatment for NP.

KEYWORDS:

• Neuropathic pain
• neuralgia
• diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• trigeminal neuralgia
• chronic pain

Article highlights

• Neuropathic pain conditions involve lesions to the somatosensory nervous system, leading to chronic and debilitating pain.

• Current treatment regimens aim to minimize pain through mechanisms that frequently show only modest efficacy.

• Current research has recognized alternative targets for treating NP symptoms that allow for greater specificity of action on certain molecular targets that are functioning erratically.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosure

A reviewer on this manuscript has disclosed that they are CEO of a company aiming at developing EGFR inhibitors against neuropathic pain (www.akigai.no). Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no other relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.