Treatment for neuropathic pain induced by chemotherapies

Context

Some neurotoxic chemotherapies induce neuropathic pain disturbing everyday life. This pain can be acute and become chronic or even irreversible with motor and/or depressive trouble outcomes. Cancer treatments with oxaliplatin induces sensory neuropathy which can lead to decrease or stop treatment, with the risk of limiting the effective clinical outcome. Several classes of pharmacological treatments are used in the management of these pain symptoms, including different types of antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids, and topical treatments. However, most of them are not efficient in eliminating pain entirely and there is usually a trade-off in terms of safety and tolerability.

Technology

Repositioning of Donepezil, a centrally active acetylcholinesterase inhibitor initially prescribed in Alzheimer’s disease but exhibiting low efficiency, is proposed here as a solution to prevent and cure neuropathic pain induced by neurotoxic chemotherapies. Efficiency of Donepezil against oxaliplatin-induced pain was validated in an animal model. Systemic treatment with Donepezil prevented and reversed both sensory and motor deficits induced by oxaliplatin in rats. Interestingly, Donepezil also reduced the depression-like phenotype. Donepezil regimen also cured overall neuropathic pain symptoms for both taxanes and Vinca alkaloids.

Advantages / Benefits

• Response to an unmet therapeutic need
• Analgesic activity validated by preclinical studies
• Prevention of chemotherapic neuropathic pain
• Repositioning of a commercial drug, attractive to speed up drug development