Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Targets Chronic Pain Condition with Latest Formulation

It will use a combination of unnamed phytocannabinoids to treat trigeminal neuralgia, which produces an “excruciating, stabbing, electric shock-like pain”

Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies Holdings PLC (LSE:OCTP) said it is developing a treatment for a rare and chronic pain condition.

It will use a combination of unnamed phytocannabinoids to treat trigeminal neuralgia (TN), which produces an “excruciating, stabbing, electric shock-like pain”.

Researchers will develop an inhaler to deliver the therapeutic payload. As such, it is teaming up with Oz-UK to create a cannabinoid metered dose device.

The aim is to secure orphan designation for the approach, which is conferred where there is an unmet medical need. The designation could shorten the timeline to market.

In a wide-ranging update, the company said it had also signed an agreement with a US firm called Purisys to source ultra-high purity, cannabinoid active pharmaceutical ingredients.

And it is bringing in Voisin Consulting Life Sciences to provide “support to define nonclinical risk and gap analysis, regulatory strategy and roadmap, as well as clinical development strategy”.

Oxford Cannabinoid Technologies chief executive, Dr John Lucas, said he was “delighted” to have expanded the company’s portfolio further.

“The pain caused by TN can be extremely debilitating and we are looking forward to working towards a pain management solution with our partners,” he added.

“We remain focused on developing our portfolio and increasing our growth potential as we progress our drug development programmes through preclinical and clinical trials. "

TN, which is also known as tic douloureux, can cause up to 100 attacks per day, with a constant throbbing, aching or burning sensation between episodes.

Around 150,000 new cases of TN are diagnosed each year, and in 2021 there were over 65,000 cases in the UK.