Dr. Lynn Kirkpatrick, CEO of Ensysce Biosciences, discusses the development of a safer option to opioid pain killers that prevents abuse and overdose. Topics include Tripsin-Activated Abuse Protection, the MPAR approach to prevent prescription opioid overdose, and the advancement of a FDA approved product for chronic severe pain patients.
TAP chemical approach prevents abuse by inactivating opioids until swallowed, showcasing safer pain relief.
MPAR products offer both abuse and overdose protection by controlling opioid release, making opioids safer for patients.
Deep dives
Developing TAP - a Safer Option to Opioid Painkillers
N-Sized Biocciences is developing TAP (Tripsin-Activated Abuse Protection), a chemical approach to reducing abuse of opioids. Unlike physical deterrents, TAP is engineered at the chemical level to prevent abuse by making the opioid inactive until it's swallowed, and harder to break. Clinical data shows that TAP has the same pain-relieving effects as opioids but lasts longer and reduces the risk of abuse. This next-generation opioid addresses the dueling crises of chronic pain and abuse by providing safer pain relief.
Ensuring Overdose Protection with MPAR
N-Sized Biocciences has developed MPAR (Multi-Pill Abuse Resistant) products to provide not only abuse protection but also overdose protection. MPAR combines TAP opioids with a trypsin inhibitor to prevent overdose if someone consumes too much. Clinical trials have shown that MPAR products release opioids at the prescribed dose but put the brakes on release when someone escalates the dose, preventing overdose. This innovative approach offers a significant advancement in making opioids safer for patients with chronic severe pain.
Nearing FDA Approval with Promising Clinical Data
N-Sized Biocciences' lead product, PF614, modified oxycodone with the same release profile as OxyContin, has shown good safety and efficacy signals. With clinical data demonstrating reduced abuse potential and a safety profile equivalent to other opioids on the market, PF614 has the potential to be the first FDA-approved product to make opioids safer. The company is poised to move into pivotal phase 3 trials and is also developing PF614 MPAR with overdose protection, aiming to provide a safer alternative for millions of people struggling with pain.
In the In Conversation Withseries, a part of the free DDW podcast, DDW speaks with members of the drug discovery industry about their work and how it helps turn science into business.
In this episode, Megan Thomas is in conversation with Dr Lynn Kirkpatrick, CEO of Ensysce Biosciences. As we all know, the opioid epidemic is one of the biggest issues in the United States today. As of late, it has been cracked down on to prevent overdosing and abuse of opioids, but it still leaves patients with a need for pain medication. Currently, Ensynsce Biosciences is headed into Phase III clinical trials with a drug that improves the care and safety of patients by preventing the possibility of both abuse and overdose of prescription drugs. Today, CEO Dr Kirkpatrick talks about how they are developing this safer option to opioid pain killers, and how it prevents abuse and overdose.