An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic, pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used for pain management. Analgesics are conceptually distinct from anesthetics, which temporarily reduce, and in some instances eliminate, sensation, although analgesia and anesthesia are neurophysiologically overlapping and thus various drugs have both analgesic and anesthetic effects.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is an Israeli multinational pharmaceutical company. It specializes primarily in generic drugs, but other business interests include active pharmaceutical ingredients and, to a lesser extent, proprietary pharmaceuticals. Teva Pharmaceuticals was the largest generic drug manufacturer, when it was surpassed briefly by US-based Pfizer. Teva regained its market leader position once Pfizer spun off its generic drug division in a merger with Mylan, forming the new company Viatris at the end of 2020. Overall, Teva is the 18th largest pharmaceutical company in the world.
Nav1.7 is a sodium ion channel that in humans is encoded by the SCN9A gene. It is usually expressed at high levels in two types of neurons: the nociceptive (pain) neurons at dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and trigeminal ganglion and sympathetic ganglion neurons, which are part of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system.
Sodium channel, voltage-gated, type XI, alpha subunit also known as SCN11A or Nav1.9 is a voltage-gated sodium ion channel protein which is encoded by the SCN11A gene on chromosome 3 in humans. Like Nav1.7 and Nav1.8, Nav1.9 plays a role in pain perception. This channel is largely expressed in small-diameter nociceptors of the dorsal root ganglion and trigeminal ganglion neurons, but is also found in intrinsic myenteric neurons.
Lacosamide, sold under the brand name Vimpat among others, is a medication used for the treatment of partial-onset seizures and primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures. It is used by mouth or intravenously.
Flupirtine is an aminopyridine that functions as a centrally acting non-opioid analgesic that was originally used as an analgesic for acute and chronic pain but in 2013 due to issues with liver toxicity, the European Medicines Agency restricted its use to acute pain, for no more than two weeks, and only for people who cannot use other painkillers. In March 2018, marketing authorisations for flupirtine were withdrawn following a European Medicines Agency recommendation based on the finding that the restrictions introduced in 2013 had not been sufficiently followed in clinical practice, and cases of serious liver injury still occurred including liver failure.
Nav1.8 is a sodium ion channel subtype that in humans is encoded by the SCN10A gene.
Sodium channel blockers are drugs which impair the conduction of sodium ions (Na+) through sodium channels.
Camurus AB (publ) is a Swedish research-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology company specialising in the commercialization of medicines for treating serious and chronic diseases. Established in 1991 and based in the southern university city of Lund, in the Medicon Valley region, the company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Mid Cap.
Hydrocodone/ibuprofen (INNs), sold under the brand name Vicoprofen, is a fixed-dose combination analgesic medication used in short-term therapy to relieve severe pain. Vicoprofen combines the analgesic and antitussive properties of hydrocodone with the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties of ibuprofen. In contrast to hydrocodone/acetaminophen combination analgesics such as Vicodin, this hydrocodone/ibuprofen avoids some of the liver toxicity which may occur from acetaminophen, but still presents significant dangers in hydrocodone overdose, namely respiratory depression. Vicoprofen is supplied in a fixed dose combination tablet which contains hydrocodone bitartrate, USP 7.5 mg with ibuprofen, USP 200 mg. Additional strengths of generic Vicoprofen are now available, in combinations of 5 mg/200 mg and 10 mg/200 mg respectively.
Flexion Therapeutics is an American biopharmaceutical company based in Burlington, Massachusetts that is focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, local therapies for the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal conditions, beginning with osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc is a biopharmaceutical company based in Ireland. It was founded in 2003. One of the company's considerable products is the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug Xyrem, the sodium salt of the naturally occurring neurotransmitter γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). In 2017, net product sales of Xyrem were $1.187 billion, which represented 74% of the company's total net product sales. In 2019, Jazz was granted FDA-approval to market Sunosi with indications for treating excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in narcolepsy as well as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In 2022, it was announced that Axsome Therapeutics would be acquiring Sunosi from Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Vixotrigine, formerly known as raxatrigine, is an analgesic which is under development by Convergence Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of lumbosacral radiculopathy (sciatica) and trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). Vixotrigine was originally claimed to be a selective central Nav1.3 blocker, but was subsequently redefined as a selective peripheral Nav1.7 blocker. Following this, vixotrigine was redefined once again, as a non-selective voltage-gated sodium channel blocker. As of January 2018, it is in phase III clinical trials for trigeminal neuralgia and is in phase II clinical studies for erythromelalgia and neuropathic pain. It was previously under investigation for the treatment of bipolar disorder, but development for this indication was discontinued.
PF-05089771 is a selective, small-molecule Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 voltage-gated sodium channel blocker under development by Pfizer as a novel analgesic. As of June 2014, it has completed phase II clinical trials for wisdom tooth removal and primary erythromelalgia.
DSP-2230 is a selective small-molecule Nav1.7 and Nav1.8 voltage-gated sodium channel blocker which is under development by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma for the treatment of neuropathic pain. As of June 2014, it is in phase I/phase II clinical trials.
Ralfinamide (INN) is a multimodal drug which is under investigation by Newron Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neuropathic pain and other pain conditions such as post-operative dental pain.
Difelikefalin, sold under the brand name Korsuva, is an opioid peptide used for the treatment of moderate to severe itch. It acts as a peripherally-restricted, highly selective agonist of the κ-opioid receptor (KOR).
Evenamide is a selective voltage-gated sodium channel blocker, including subtypes Nav1.3, Nav1.7, and Nav1.8, which is described as an antipsychotic and is under development by Newron Pharmaceuticals as an add-on therapy for the treatment of schizophrenia. The drug has shown efficacy in animal models of psychosis, mania, depression, and aggression. It has completed phase I clinical trials, and phase II clinical trials will be commenced in the third quarter of 2015.
N58A is a peptide depressant β-neurotoxin found in the venom of certain East Asian scorpions. The toxin affects voltage-gated sodium channels, specifically Nav1.8 & Nav1.9 channels.
