BERWYN, PA — Virpax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRPX) has announced an extension of its cooperative research and development agreement with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The collaboration focuses on the continued development of NES100, an intranasal drug candidate designed to manage acute and chronic non-cancer pain.
NES100 is an enkephalin-based product that utilizes nanotechnology to address the challenges of delivering this naturally occurring peptide to the brain. Enkephalins are difficult to administer in their original form due to their instability. NES100’s innovative design uses a specialized device to deliver the drug through the nasal cavity, allowing it to flow along the olfactory nerve pathway.
The product is further enhanced by Molecular Envelope Technology (MET), which is intended to shield the peptide and facilitate its transport to the brain. Once delivered, the drug targets delta opioid receptors to suppress pain quickly. Importantly, NES100 has shown promising results in pre-clinical research, with no evidence of side effects commonly associated with opioids, such as addiction, respiratory suppression, or withdrawal.
“We are excited that this collaboration has been extended with NCATS and the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative as we believe that it may help Virpax develop an effective and safe alternative to conventional opioids,” said Jatinder Dhaliwal, Chief Executive Officer of Virpax Pharmaceuticals.
The extended partnership with NCATS aims to build on existing pre-clinical research while advancing clinical development. If successful, NES100 has the potential to provide patients with a safer option for managing pain without the risks linked to traditional opioid treatments.
This ongoing collaboration highlights Virpax’s commitment to addressing the opioid crisis by delivering innovative and safer pain management solutions.
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