Pharmaleads is focused on developing innovative, non-opiate medications for managing acute and chronic severe pain, addressing a significant unmet medical need in the healthcare market. The company's primary technology revolves around Dual ENKephalinase Inhibitors (DENKIs), which are designed to inhibit the enzymes that degrade enkephalins—natural peptides that play a crucial role in the body's pain modulation system. By protecting enkephalins from degradation, DENKIs increase their local concentrations, thereby enhancing their analgesic effects without the side effects commonly associated with traditional opiate painkillers. Pharmaleads is advancing two key products in clinical development: PL265, aimed at treating neuropathic pain and ocular pain, and PL37, intended for post-surgical pain relief.

The scientific foundation of Pharmaleads' approach is based on the understanding that enkephalins bind to opioid receptors to modulate pain signals. Research led by co-founder Professor Roques has demonstrated that inhibiting the enkephalin-degrading enzymes APN and NEP can significantly elevate local enkephalin levels, providing effective pain relief. PL265, a small molecule DENKI, has shown promising results in early clinical trials, with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile and potential applications in both oral and ocular formulations. The company is also exploring the use of PL265 for treating ocular pain and dry eye syndrome, addressing a market with limited existing treatment options. Overall, Pharmaleads is leveraging its expertise in enkephalin biology to develop cutting-edge pain relief solutions that aim to improve patient outcomes without the drawbacks of conventional analgesics.

France

Pharmaleads’ mission is to provide precision medicine to relieve the suffering associated with acute and chronic pain.  

Through the development of our proprietary Dual ENKephalinase Inhibitors (DENKI®) it is our aim to provide both efficacious and safe non-opiate pain therapeutics. 


Pharmaleads

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