Novel Peptides for Treating Cocaine Addiction And Pain
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1-8.png)
The Problems
- Drug addiction is a scourge of both developed and less-developed societies. The economic impact of drug addiction includes direct treatment costs as well as lost productivity and crime.
- Neuropathic pain is a chronic pain condition caused by a primary lesion or dysfunction in the nervous system. It can be a consequence of many different insults, such as trauma, neuronal injury, infection, or addiction to narcotics. Neuropathic pain has a significant adverse impact on life, health, and functions and is difficult to treat.
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2-7.png)
The Solution
Bar-Ilan and Ariel University teams have identified novel peptides for treating addiction and possibly pain. The peptides were shown to be specific agonists to the delta-opioid receptor (δR), which is directly involved in drug craving and pain. We bond the peptides to PEPnanoparticles
which assist their passage across the blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB) after intranasal administration.
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/3-7.png)
The Commercial Benefit
- Our cutting-edge peptides more effectively penetrate the BBB, reach their target and
eliminated cocaine craving. - Our peptides attenuate relapse to drug usage.
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/4-7.png)
Market Potential
Global production of cocaine can be estimated for 2014 at 746-943 tons; those values are slightly higher than in the previous year. Global number of cocaine users in 2014 was 18.3 million.
Additionally, a δR agonist might be used for neuropathic pain treatment. Neuropathic pain is estimated to affect 7 to 10% of adults globally; that is between 518 to 740 million people. The global neuropathic pain market was valued at US$ 5.2 Bn in 2015 and was estimated to reach a market valuation of US$ 5.4 Bn by 2016. The market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 5.6% during an eight-year forecast period 2016–2024 and reach US$ 8.3 Bn by the end of 2024.
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/5-8.png)
Target Markets/Industries
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Addiction Research Laboratories
- Drug addiction organizations
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/6-8.png)
Intellectual Property
US granted patent number 10,421,785
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/7-7.png)
Team: Primary Inventor
Prof. Gal Yadid
- Prof. Yadid is best known for his research on the neuropsychopharmacological mechanisms behind psychiatric disorders.
- Yadid’s research group focuses on developing pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment modalities for psychiatric disease, specifically drug addiction, depression, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/8-7.png)
- Prof. Firer received his Ph.D from Melbourne University, Australia working on the immunology of food allergy.
- After postdoctoral work at the Weizmann Institute of Science, he worked as an R&D Manager in the Israel biotech industry.
- Prof. Firer is currently Chairman of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Ariel University, Israel
- He serves as Director of the University's Interdisciplinary Cancer Research Center.
- His main research focus is the use of peptides for targeted drug delivery for cancer and other applications.
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/9-7.png)
Future Research
To promote our drug discovery and development to a new level, the utilization of animal and toxicity in vivo experimental models are required.
![](https://birad.biz/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/10-6.png)
The Opportunity
We are looking for investors that are willing to support the research and translating of this novel peptide to the clinic.