NeuroDigm Reveals How Chronic Pain Begins in a GEL Animal Model of Neuropathic Pain

June 12, 2012 -- By exploring the natural origin of nerve pain NeuroDigm Co. opens a new field in preclinical pain research. Currently biotech and pharma companies perform analgesic candidate screening using rodent models created mainly by nerve transection or ligation. Use of these nerve trauma models has resulted in few new analgesic candidates over decades.

The major cause of neuropathic pain according to Mary Hannaman MD, President of NeuroDigm Co., is inflammation created by tissue repair not nerve damage. Forms of cold, heat, chemicals, metal, ligatures, compression and nerve trauma or transection create current neuropathic pain models. These methods are not representative of the cause of the majority of persistent nerve pain cases seen by physicians.

To enable solutions NeuroDigm has developed a nonsurgical rodent model created by the injection of a gel. The GEL Neuropathic Pain Model stimulates a change in the extracellular matrix causing the gradual onset of fibrosis that creates a natural stricture. The gentle compression caused by this method produces inflammation without clinical or histological evidence of nerve damage.

Neural regeneration may be represented in The GEL Neuropathic Pain model, since the pain behaviors are gradual in onset yet robust and persist with increasing intensity over 6 months and longer. Dr. Hannaman says tissue repair and neural regeneration can refocus preclinical pain research enabling more successful analgesics, and targeted treatments with biologics.

The GEL Neuropathic Pain model represents the pain syndromes that may gradually occur after musculoskeletal strains, industrial overuse conditions, surgeries, minor trauma, nerve entrapments and back strains.

NeuroDigm Co. LLC business office is located in Colorado Springs, CO. The company focuses on research and development related to neuropathic pain solutions to aid companies in pain research. Preclinical contract research services are available. The company has U.S. Patents on The GEL Model??? 7015371, 7388124.

Contact: Mary Hannaman mary.hannaman@neurodigm.com

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