TECHNOLOGY: Structural analyses Structural analyses of active, ligand-bound KOR could guide the design of biased KOR agonists to treat pain. A complex of crystallized KOR and a high-affinity ligand was suspended in a lipid-containing solution...

INDICATION: Pain; itch Mouse and rat studies suggest a G protein-biased KOR agonist could help treat pain and itch without the sedation and dysphoria caused by unbiased KOR agonists. A previously reported triazole-based, biased KOR...

Autoimmune disease INDICATION: Multiple sclerosis Cell culture and mouse studies suggest KOR agonists could help treat MS. In co-cultures of neurons and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), a KOR agonist tool compound increased differentiation of OPCs...

Tioga began a double-blind, placebo-controlled, U.S. Phase II trial to evaluate 5 mg oral asimadoline daily for up to 8 weeks in about 200 patients. Tioga Pharmaceuticals Inc. , San Diego, Calif.   Product: Asimadoline  ...

While Furiex Pharmaceuticals Inc. has hit its marks in two Phase III studies of eluxadoline to treat diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, it is hard to say how the response rates measure up to the only...

gIcare pharma Inc. is developing a pipeline of non-sedating colonic analgesic compounds to provide new and lower cost alternatives for pain management during colonoscopy. Sedation during endoscopy has become routine practice among gastroenterologists, even though...

Stephen Hansen Senior Writer  A strong crop of early PDUFA dates and a sense that FDA is more navigable have given money managers in the U.S. and Europe a positive outlook for 2013, which they...

Aros Pharma ApS has found a new way to treat pain associated with irritable bowel syndrome. The company is developing an ASIC1A antagonist that specifically reduces gastrointestinal pain and could be an effective adjunct therapy...

Ono disclosed in its 1Q12 earnings ending June 30 that it began a double-blind, placebo-controlled, Japanese Phase II trial to evaluate oral asimadoline in about 189 patients. Ono has right to the compound from Tioga...

Tioga Pharmaceuticals Inc. (San Diego, Calif.) raised $10 million in a series B round led by new investor Thomas, McNerney & Partners. Existing investor Genesys Capital Partners also participated. Tioga's asimadoline is in the first...