Modified Botox could help ease chronic pain

Friday November 1st, 2013

Scientists believe they have found a way to modify Botox to treat chronic pain and epilepsy.

Teams of scientists from 11 UK research institutes believe that a single injection could relieve pain for months at a time.

It comes after the researchers, led by Professor Bazbek Davletov, of the University of Sheffield, successfully manufactured a new bio-therapeutic molecule that can alleviate hypersensitivity to inflammatory pain.

By using elements of Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium tetani neurotoxins, commonly known as Botox and tetanus toxin respectively, they developed a molecule with new biomedical properties, without the unwanted toxic effects.

The Botox blocks neuronal communication – and therefore pain signals - for months, while the tetanus component targets the central nervous system.

Using Botox and tetanus neurotoxins for clinical applications has been stalled because of their paralytic activity but this new molecule – a potent non-paralysing neuronal blocker – offers new hope, says Professor Davletov, whose study is published in the latest edition of Bioconjugate Chemistry.

“Currently painkillers relieve lingering pain only temporarily and often have unwanted side effects,” he explains.

“A single injection of the new molecule at the site of pain could potentially relieve pain for many months in humans and this now needs to be tested. We hope that the engineered molecule could improve the quality of life for those people who suffer from chronic pain.”

Professor Davletov’s team in the Department of Biomedical Science is now working not only on neuronal blockers tailored for various neurological conditions but also on developing new cancer drugs.

Synthetic Self-Assembling Clostridial Chimera for Modulation of Sensory Functions Bioconjugate Chemistry, DOI: 10.1021/bc4003103 [abstract]

Tags: Brain & Neurology | Pain Relief | Pharmaceuticals | UK News

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