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Leveraging the latest science to make life better for pain patients
How does Grünenthal choose its R&D projects?
There is a clear need for innovative treatments that provide better outcomes for patients. In fact, one European study found that 40 percent of patients were unsatisfied with their pain management. Given this alarming number, we have set ourselves high standards for the new projects we choose. In this way, we make sure our resources are used in the most impactful way.
Grünenthal screened the therapeutic area of pain to select indications with the most urgent unmet medical needs – and with big opportunities to use new scientific developments to create innovative therapies for patients. Based on this screening, we now focus our efforts on peripheral neuropathic pain, chronic low back pain, chronic post-surgical pain and osteoarthritis.
Our scientists have built a comprehensive understanding of the human disease biology related to these indications. This allows us to identify and validate highly promising targets. We then pursue these targets holistically by taking a modality-agnostic approach. From a small molecule through to a genetic medicine approach, we deliver the best-suited development to make patients’ lives better.
Which innovations from Grünenthal’s portfolio are closest to reaching patients?
With RTX (resiniferatoxin), we have a promising asset in late-stage clinical development. We are currently completing the Phase III trials for RTX, which is an investigational medicine that we are developing to treat pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. It leverages the discovery of the Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid (TRPV1), which won the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
In addition, we are striving to enlarge the reach of our existing medicines to benefit more patients worldwide. This involves investigating real-world data to prove the positive impact of these medicines in studies for additional pain conditions. If successful, we can then expand the label of existing medicines and give more patients access to them. With Qutenza, we were successful in adding diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) to the US label and are currently working to also add post-surgical neuropathic pain (PSNP).
What further pioneering projects are Grünenthal scientists working on?
Several cutting-edge candidates are causing big excitement at Grünenthal. Our development programme researching the Nociceptin Receptor (NOP), for example, aims to provide a novel treatment that delivers safer and more effective relief for patients with neuropathic pain.
We are also excited about our work on voltage-gated sodium channels (Naᵥ). Teams at Grünenthal are investigating ways of addressing these channels to create next-generation, non-opioid pain medicines. This workstream explores new ways of providing pain relief for patients by manipulating the specific Naᵥ channels that trigger electrical signals interpreted as pain by the brain, so the channels no longer send those signals.
On top of this, we are working on a highly potent Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator (GRM). It examines ways of achieving anti-inflammatory outcomes without the side effects that often occur when using Glucocorticoids like prednisolone. While these treatments offer broad anti-inflammatory effects for patients, they are not fit for long-term treatment because they often carry side effects such as reduced bone formation or increased glucose levels – preliminary stages of osteoporosis and diabetes.
At all times, our innovators explore the latest science and seek groundbreaking treatments to make life better for patients. And we are striving to move closer toward our vision of a World Free of Pain.
1 (Breivik H, et al. Survey of chronic pain in Europe: prevalence, impact on daily life, and treatment. Eur J Pain. 2006;10(4):287-333).
Explore our key R&D projects in the latest Grünenthal Report.
