BERWYN, PA — Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRPX) recently announced positive results from a pilot study using a swine model for Probudur, its long-acting pain relief drug. Probudur, a liposomal bupivacaine formulation, is designed to offer both immediate and prolonged pain relief when injected at a wound site.
The study aimed to evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of Probudur. Four juvenile domestic pigs received a 30 mg/kg dose of the drug via subcutaneous injection. The results showed that Probudur was well-tolerated by all pigs and exhibited a slow, long-term release profile. Histopathological analysis of the injection sites confirmed the drug’s safety.
“Our study results to date for Probudur, as expected, have consistently been positive and support our belief that Probudur has the potential to provide both immediate relief as well as sustained relief at the wound site,” said Gerald Bruce, CEO of Virpax Pharmaceuticals. He noted the company’s plans to seek additional funding and aims to file for an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) by the end of the year.
Probudur aims to reduce or eliminate the need for opioids post-surgery. It functions as a local anesthetic by binding to sodium channels, which prevents pain signals from reaching the brain. Pre-clinical studies have shown that Probudur can control pain for at least 96 hours. A rat incisional model demonstrated up to five days of pain relief, while in vitro studies showed a slow release of bupivacaine lasting up to six days.
The promising results from this study strengthen Virpax’s position in the pain management sector and bring them closer to providing a viable alternative to opioid-based pain relief.
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