Chronic pain is a global problem for which currently there is no adequate solution. Although treatments for mild pain are effective, the medication used in cases of moderate to severe chronic pain may provide a pain relief but causing strong side effects such as nausea and dizziness, as well as habituation. In fact, despite a variety of treatment options, as many as 40% of patients treated for chronic pain do not attain adequate relief. In addition, opioids, a class of drugs traditionally used to control severe pain, cause dependence (since they are involved in the reward circuits of the brain), as well as effects in cognitive properties, motivation and mobility.
Chronic pain is any prolonged pain lasting more than 3-6 months or persisting after a natural recovery period. It derives from several clinical diagnoses, including diabetes, arthritis, migraines, fibromyalgia, cancer, back pain, zona, sciatica, neuropathic pain and phantom limb pain.It is a huge burden for world economics and society, affecting at least 21% of the world’s population. This number is highly likely to increase due to the global demographic trends such as aging population. Chronic pain can cause disability, leading to an enormous social and economic burden, and for which there is still no adequate treatment. Over $635 billion are lost every year in the USA due to salary losses, low productivity and health care costs, with similar figures in Europe. An innovative drug that would have less side effects than opioids and wouldn’t cause addiction, could contribute to prevent such losses, thus presenting a clear business opportunity. The global pain management drugs and devices market was estimated to be worth $58.6 billion in 2016 and reach $77.1 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 4%.
The scientific and technological approach of Sea4Us is highly disruptive compared to the current pain treatment solutions. The first Sea4Us’s lab-based research results have demonstrated the clear benefits of marine-derived compounds, yet synthesisable, in a series of pathologies, like chronic pain, and the huge potential of its derivate products in the health market. In particular, our innovative breakthroughs will lead to the development of a unique, high efficacy analgesic for patients suffering from moderate to severe chronic pain (ion channel modulator), with reduced toxicity and limited side-effects: Sea4Pain.
The overall objectives for this Phase I consisted in: 1) Technological Feasibility Study, 2) Market Assessment, 3) Business Model Assessment, 4) Risk Assessment, 5) IP Assessment, 6) Work Plan for Phase 2.
