& research may lead to better pain control/ article in news

[Guest guest]

Researchers at & Pharmaceutical Research & Development,

L.L.C., today announced that they have discovered a biological basis for

explaining how people sense cold temperatures.

Ultimately, these findings may be a critical step in developing treatments

for patients who suffer from hypersensitivity to cold, such as occurs in

neuropathic pain and complex regional pain syndromes. This research is

published in the May 3, 2007 issue of Neuron.

In the study, researchers sought to understand the mechanisms underlying

cold sensitivity. Scientists used a line of mice that lacked a critical ion

channel receptor called TRPM8, also referred to as the cold menthol receptor

1. Then, they tested how these mice reacted to cold stimuli, and found that

not having these receptors reduced their adverse reactions to the cold, both

under normal and pathological conditions. Results suggest that TRPM8

modulation could play an important role in certain types of cold-induced

pain in humans and could hold therapeutic potential in the treatment of many

chronic, painful conditions for which there are currently limited effective

treatment options.

" This work represents the culmination of a multi-year collaborative effort

on the part of & Pharmaceutical Research & Development,

L.L.C., scientists to help explain fundamental mechanisms involved in human

pain states and may lead to the development of innovative medicines to

relieve patient suffering, " said , Ph.D., biology team

leader for Analgesics, & Pharmaceutical Research &

Development, L.L.C. " Although preliminary, these findings provide compelling

initial evidence toward validating TRPM8 as an analgesic drug target and

addressing major unmet medical needs of pain patients. "

Ion channels are proteins that form tiny openings through the membrane of a

cell and allow the passage of certain ions that regulate cellular

activities. Some of these channels are opened by chemicals, some by changes

in voltage and others by various temperatures. TRPM8 is a member of the

thermo-TRP family of ion channels that respond to temperatures ranging from

noxious heat to noxious cold. Many scientists think that modulating the

signals carried through such channels represents an important strategy for

designing drugs to treat a host of conditions, including pain.

" We have a long history of bringing patients innovative treatments for pain,

from TYLENOL®, which was first introduced in the 1950s, to JURNISTA™, which

was launched in Europe in 2006, " said Stoffels, M.D., company group

chairman, Pharmaceutical Research and Development, & . " Our

ability to bring innovative treatments for these evolving needs starts with

the understanding that not all pain is the same. Distinct biological

mechanisms cause different kinds of pain, which means that while one drug

target may be best for treating the neuropathic pain of a diabetes patient,

another target may be better for easing the chronic pain of a patient with

advanced osteoarthritis. We are committed to the discovery and development

of new medicines to treat pain, and this initial discovery reflects the

important research into many disease treatments being explored in our labs. "

*About & Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.*

& Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C., is part of

& , the world's most broadly based producer of health care

products. & Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C.,

is headquartered in Raritan, New Jersey (USA), and has facilities throughout

Europe and the United States. & Pharmaceutical Research &

Development, L.L.C., is leveraging drug discovery and drug development in a

variety of therapeutic areas to address unmet medical needs worldwide.

&

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