About Us
Overview
Adolore’s Mission: Develop next generation, disease-modifying, neuromodulating gene therapies for the treatment of neurological disorders & chronic pain
We are a Neuroscience biotechnology company focused on developing novel neuromodulating therapies for the treatment of neurological and sensory conditions, such as epilepsy, hearing loss and chronic pain. Our novel treatments are long-acting and locally-administered CA8* endogenous peptide therapies delivered inside target neurons with gene-vector technology.
Our leading CA8* gene therapy programs are in preclinical development for:
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The treatment of patients suffering from erythromelalgia, a form or neuropathic pain and a life-long heritable chronic pain condition representing an orphan drug disease with no approved therapy, and
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Treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic pain due to osteoarthritis, affecting a large number of patients that are often treated with opioids due to the lack of good alternatives, thus contributing to the ongoing opioid crisis, while
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Adolore is seeking to partner other applications of our technology, such as treatment of epilepsy, hearing loss and severe chronic eye pain
Innovating Neuromodulation
Our therapeutic peptides encoded in our gene therapies (“transgenes”) are stable functional variants of the endogenous human peptide Carbonic Anhydrase-8 (CA8* variant). This protein functions inside of sensory neurons to decrease their excitability (neuromodulation) and thereby substantially suppressing pain due to higher levels of CA8* inside these pain-sensing cells.
Our founder, Dr. Levitt, Clinical Professor and chronic pain physician at the University of Miami, first described the role of CA8* in neuromodulation of neurons. He pioneered incorporating the genetic code for CA8* into cutting-edge proprietary gene therapy-vectors to create innovative treatments for neurological disorders including chronic pain. He and his colleagues showed increased cellular levels of CA8* decreased neuronal excitability by activating Kv7 channels to decrease pain sensation and regulate analgesic responses. The Kv7 activation mechanism is also proven for managing treatment-resistant epilepsy and is emerging as a versatile novel neuromodulation approach applicable to many Peripheral- and Central-Nervous-System disorders.
More about our novel neuromodulating CA8* transgene technology+
Chronic Pain IS the Disease
While many medical conditions can be a key causal factor for the development of chronic pain, it is now well accepted that for many patients, chronic pain is the disease and constant/frequent pain becomes the primary symptom impacting their well-being. This is true for neuropathic pain, e.g., diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic-neuralgia (PHN) or erythromelalgia. This is also true for knee or hip osteoarthritis chronic pain, which is second only to low back pain in prevalence. Chronic severe pain IS the debilitating aspect of these conditions that limits functionality, physical activity, social participation and contributes to increased morbidity and mortality. Treating chronic pain will greatly improve quality-of-life, function, as well as social and economic participation for most patients.
Naturally, CA8* functions in our bodies on the inside sensory neurons providing the pain sensation at increased levels. Our CA8* active moieties function in the same manner, inside sensory neurons providing a pharmaco-dynamic profile suitable for pharmacotherapy. Numerous preclinical studies conducted by Dr. Levitt have demonstrated profound analgesia, equipotent to morphine, as well as a very benign safety profile.
More about our approach to treating chronic pain+
Overcoming challenges – delivering CA8* to the INSIDE of neurons
The CA8* peptide functions on the inside of sensory neurons. Established injectable biological therapies work from the outside of cell, often in the blood stream or on the receptors on cell surfaces. Adolore’s rdHSV gene vector technology delivers the gene for our CA8* peptides to the inside of our target neuronal cells, using a highly differentiated vector compared to AAV vector technology.
Our cutting-edge, next generation gene therapy vectors are disease-free, highly selective for neuronal tissues, do not replicate (‘replication defective’), avoid immune surveillance (aiding redosing), and are locally administered with minimal off-target effects and immune-responses.
More about our novel vector technology+
Key Highlights
CA8* (*Carbonic anhydrase-8 like analgesic peptides, CA8 variants) gene therapies are a novel class of neuronal calcium channel inhibitors that activate Kv7 voltage-gated potassium channels that are long-acting when administered locally.