Gal Yadid, Ph.D
NeuroPsychoPharmacology

PEP-1 is a delta-opioid receptor agonistic peptides that attenuate

cocaine craving and relief pain.

Project Status:
PCT patent.
Pre clinic study last stage- ADMET (safety [brain]).

Background:
In 2017 the US government declare on "Opioid Epidemic". Since the 90's there was a massive overuse of opioid medications, both from \ prescription medication and illegal usage. Opioid drugs are mostly use as painkillers and include: opiates (morphine, codeine), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco), and fentanyl.
Opioid painkillers are highly addictive and drug overdose is one of the main causes of death in 20-64 ages. It is estimated that 130 people die every day in the United States due to opioid-related drug overdose.
It is estimated that in 2020 the opioid crisis cost the US 1-1.5 trillion dollars. The US government is currently in a lawsuit against the 5 biggest drug companies, over that matter.

The Problem:
- There are no good alternatives for opioid painkillers.
- Over time the body develops tolerance to the opioid drug and patients need a constantly dose increases.
- Opioids are highly addictive and ordinary people can develop dependence and can get addicted to it, even by from using legal prescription for painkillers.

- Opioid overdose cause death, mental and economic burden and loss of productivity.

- statistics

- Addiction treatment in detox and rehabilitation centers yield high dropout rates due to the fact that the patient suffers from extreme pain (hyperalgesia) during the rehab progress.

Solution and project uniqueness:

We synthesize a short peptide (PEP-1), that have a specific binding to delta opioid receptor (DOR) and Similar to the endogenous β –endorphin activity. We test it on addiction model (cocaine, oxycodone) and pain assay.

PEP-1 is a superior delta agonist for treating chronic pain and addiction, and it is not addictive. PEP1 does not have a reward-like behavior but attenuate addiction craving (cocaine).

- We have a potential innovative non-opioid next generation drug candidate lead with advanced pre-clinical data for Pain & Addiction with a PCT patent.

- Addicted people conducting a rehab program return to drug due to their huge pain as a result of the withdrawal from it. Our drug candidate, cause no addiction by itself and alleviate the pain.
 

Market size:

An estimated 3% to 19% of people who take prescription pain medications develop an addiction to them.

Opioid overdose deaths are estimated to be around 115,000 annually. (World Health Organization, 2021)

60 million people worldwide use opioids, with 39.5 million living with opioid use disorders. (World Health Organization, 2023)

The global pain management market was estimated at $80.9 billion in 2022, with growing CAGR of 5.4% and up to $109.9 billion in 2028. (DataHorizzon Research)

Pnina Izhak, PhD.