Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness
Octavian Therapeutics
Octavian develops non-addictive small-molecule medicines targeting the ECS to revolutionise precision pain management.
October 7th marked National Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day and so we are taking a moment to reflect upon what this means for people living with the condition and why raising awareness is fundamental for this often invisible condition. With around ten in 10,000 people in the UK being diagnosed with TN every year, it is an important day for those living with it and their families, friends and carers. At OCT we are keen to play our part in drawing attention to the condition and helping to find breakthrough therapies.
Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain disorder that targets the trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve responsible for sensation in the face and for vital every day functions such as biting and chewing. Defined by pain that has been described as similar to an electric shock in the jaw, teeth or gums, TN’s symptoms have an unimaginable and impairing effect on the lives of those suffering from the condition.
Chronic pain not only affects people living with TN physically, but it can also have harmful and long-term effects on their mental health. While the condition remains difficult to diagnose, there is also currently a lack of effective treatments available.
At the moment, the most common medication used to treat TN is carbamazepine, a drug typically prescribed for epilepsy. While effective for some people living with the condition, up to 10 per cent of those affected by the condition do not respond to the antiepileptic drugs. There are currently no other medications that can be prescribed for TN. The only alternative treatment is surgical intervention.
There are a number of organisations committed to raising awareness of the condition and of its severe and adverse impact on ordinary people’s lives. The UK Trigeminal Neuralgia Association (TNA) is, in particular, exclusively concentrated on increasing the understanding of TN amongst both the general public and healthcare professionals and sharing useful and timely information to those living with the condition. They are currently undergoing a research project focused on the mGlu5 receptors which are proteins found in the brain and nervous system which, when overactive, can contribute to conditions such as chronic pain.
Organisations such as the Facial Pain Association similarly organise fundraising events and research forums with the hope of getting closer to understanding TN as a condition and the ways in which those who live with it may be best supported. Days like National Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day, therefore, remain at the heart of widening the awareness around this invisible condition.
Here at OCT we remain focused on developing breakthrough therapies for a range of debilitating conditions, including TN, in order to bring relief to people living with chronic pain. As well as raising awareness, we are focusing a significant amount of research into OCT130401, programme 2, as a potential treatment for TN. We have successfully completed our pre-clinical work, with the programme positioned now to enter Phase 1 clinical trials. We plan to deliver OCT130401 treatments through an inhaler device, which we hope will offer a faster onset of pain relief. We remain committed to unlocking the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids by targeting the endocannabinoid system and are hopeful about the future treatment options, both for TN and other conditions, that this could present.
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