近日,人福医药自主研发的血管紧张素Ⅱ 2型受体(AT2R)拮抗剂HW243040片,已获得国家药品监督管理局(NMPA)核准签发的《药物临床试验批准通知书》,获批开展临床试验,适应症为周围神经病理性疼痛。
关于周围神经病理性疼痛
神经病理痛是由中枢或外周神经系统损伤或功能障碍引起的慢性疼痛,根据神经损伤的来源可简单区分为周围神经病理性疼痛与中枢神经病理性疼痛。周围神经病理性疼痛是此类慢性神经痛的主要亚型,多以糖尿病周围神经病变、带状疱疹后神经痛等疾病作为亚型表现[1]。
周围神经病理性疼痛无具体流行病学统计,在带状疱疹患者以及糖尿病患者中周围神经病理性疼痛患病率分别为大约6.5%与30% [2,3],且随着人口老龄化及糖尿病等慢性病的高发,患者数量正呈显著上升趋势。
周围神经病理性疼痛表现为感觉异常、自发性疼痛、痛觉过敏和痛觉超敏[4],其剧烈程度和顽固性给患者带来了明显的身心折磨,常伴随严重的睡眠障碍、焦虑和抑郁,导致生活质量下降。然而,当前临床一线治疗药物(如加巴喷丁、普瑞巴林及三环类抗抑郁药等)多为“老药新用”,仅对30%-50%的患者有效,长期使用易产生耐受性,且常伴有头晕、嗜睡等中枢神经系统副作用[4]。而传统阿片类镇痛药尽管疗效显著,但因为阿片类镇痛药典型的不良反应以及成瘾性风险,在此类患者中仅作为后线用药。现有药物疗效有限、易产生耐受性且中枢不良反应频发,显著降低了患者的长期依从性,这正是当前周围神经病理性疼痛治疗面临的核心困境。
关于AT2R拮抗剂
AT2R是肾素-血管紧张素系统(Angiotensin Ⅱ Type 2 Receptor,RAS)的重要组成受体。传统的研究认为该靶点是RAS系统的替代通路及保护性通路的重要组成部分[5],但近几年的靶点研究发现,在神经性损伤痛觉模型中,AT2R与疼痛具有显著关联[6]。
研究证实,神经损伤后,AT2R会特异性高表达于浸润至损伤部位的巨噬细胞。被激活的AT2R促使巨噬细胞释放大量活性氧/氮(ROS/RNS),这些物质作为旁分泌信使,直接激活感觉神经元末梢的TRPA1(瞬时受体电位A1)离子通道,进而引发痛觉过敏与异常疼痛[7]。
图1 AT2R拮抗剂的作用机制
明确这一机制后,阻断该通路成为治疗周围神经病理性疼痛的有效策略。由于AT2R在此过程中发挥促痛作用,使用AT2R拮抗剂可有效抑制巨噬细胞介导的疼痛信号传导,缓解神经元过度兴奋。作为一种潜在的非阿片类镇痛药物,AT2R拮抗剂在提供镇痛作用的同时,有望避免传统中枢镇痛药的成瘾性问题,为临床治疗周围神经病理性疼痛提供了更具安全性的新选择。
关于HW243040
HW243040是由人福医药研究院自主研发的化药1类创新药,该药物通过拮抗AT2R受体调控疼痛传导通路。临床前研究结果显示,HW243040对AT2R受体具有较好的选择性,在多种疼痛模型中均展现出优良的镇痛效果。此外,HW243040在非临床安全性评价中表现出良好的安全窗口,为后续临床转化奠定了坚实基础。
目前,全球在研的AT2R拮抗剂仅有礼来的LY4065967与北京泰德的TRD-205处于Ⅱ期临床,步长制药WXSH0024处于Ⅰ期临床。此次HW243040片IND的获批标志着人福医药在慢性疼痛创新药领域迈出关键一步。
未来,公司将加速推进HW243040片的临床试验,致力于为中国数千万的周围神经病理性疼痛患者带来安全、有效的非阿片类靶向治疗新选择,进一步丰富该领域的临床治疗手段,助力破解周围神经病理性疼痛长期缺乏理想药物的困境。
关于人福医药研究院
人福医药研究院是人福医药集团的中央研发机构,是集团创新发展的核心引擎,承载着集团战略转型使命,为构建全球研发体系、冲刺世界一流生命科技企业提供核心支撑。研究院聚焦创新药研发,以满足未被满足的临床需求为导向,在集团的优势治疗领域持续深耕,凭借强劲的自主研发与转化能力确立和巩固集团在核心细分赛道的研发优势。研究院将以患者需求为初心、科技创新为引擎,深耕生命健康领域,用优质创新药物赋能人类健康事业,助力集团打造全球竞争力。如需了解更多研发动态,欢迎关注“人福医药研究院”微信公众号。
Humanwell Healthcare’s Innovative Drug HW243040 Gains IND Clearance from NMPA
Recently, HW243040, an angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor (AT2R) antagonist independently developed by Humanwell Healthcare, received IND clearance from National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for peripheral neuropathic pain.
About Peripheral Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition caused by injury or dysfunction of the central or peripheral nervous system. Based on the origin of the nerve injury, it is broadly classified into peripheral and central neuropathic pain. As the most common subtype, peripheral neuropathic pain encompasses conditions such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN)[1].
Although comprehensive epidemiological data on peripheral neuropathic pain are limited, the condition is estimated to affect approximately 6.5% of patients with herpes zoster and 30% of those with diabetes[2,3]. Driven by the aging population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, this patient demographic is expanding significantly.
Clinically, peripheral neuropathic pain is characterized by paresthesia, spontaneous pain, hyperalgesia, and allodynia[4]. Due to its severe and refractory nature, the condition inflicts substantial physical and psychological distress on patients. It is frequently accompanied by severe sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression, all of which contribute to a markedly diminished quality of life. However, current first-line pharmacotherapies—such as gabapentin, pregabalin, and tricyclic antidepressants—were originally developed for other indications and provide adequate relief in only 30% to 50% of patients. Furthermore, long-term use is often limited by tolerance and central nervous system (CNS) side effects, most notably dizziness and somnolence[4]. Although conventional opioid analgesics deliver robust efficacy, they are typically reserved as later-line therapies due to their limiting safety profiles and inherent risks of dependency and addiction. Ultimately, the limitations of current therapies—including suboptimal efficacy, drug tolerance, and frequent CNS adverse events—severely compromise long-term patient adherence. This represents a significant unmet medical need in the management of peripheral neuropathic pain.
About AT2R Antagonists
AT2R is a key receptor within the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). While traditionally recognized for its role in the alternative and protective pathways of the RAS[5], emerging preclinical evidence has elucidated a significant link between AT2R signaling pathway and neuropathic pain[6].
Preclinical studies demonstrate that following nerve injury, AT2R is highly and specifically upregulated on macrophages infiltrating the site of injury. Upon activation, AT2R triggers these macrophages to release substantial amounts of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). Acting as paracrine messengers, these molecules directly activate transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels on sensory nerve terminals, ultimately driving hyperalgesia and allodynia[7].
Figure1 Mechanism of action of AT2R antagonists
Building on these mechanistic insights, targeted blockade of the AT2R signaling pathway has emerged as a highly promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain. Given the pronociceptive role of AT2R in this cascade, AT2R antagonists are designed to effectively block macrophage-mediated pain signaling pathway and attenuate neuronal hyperexcitability. As a promising class of non-opioid analgesics, AT2R antagonists deliver effective pain relief without the addiction liability associated with conventional centrally acting agents. It is a novel and safer therapeutic option for the clinical management of peripheral neuropathic pain.
About HW243040
HW243040 is a small‑molecule innovative drug independently developed by Humanwell Pharmaceutical R&D Institute. It is designed to modulate pain signaling pathway by selectively antagonizing AT2R. Preclinical studies demonstrate that HW243040 exhibits high selectivity for AT2R, delivering robust analgesic efficacy across multiple pain models. Furthermore, HW243040 demonstrated a highly favorable safety profile in preclinical evaluations, providing a robust foundation for its subsequent clinical development.
Currently, the global clinical pipeline for AT2R antagonists is highly concentrated, with only two candidates—Eli Lilly's LY4065967 and Beijing Tide Pharmaceutical's TRD-205—having advanced to Phase Ⅱ trials. Meanwhile, Buchang Pharma's WXSH0024 is in Phase Ⅰ development. The IND clearance of HW243040 marks a crucial milestone for Humanwell Healthcare in the development of innovative chronic pain therapeutics.
Moving forward, the company will accelerate the clinical development of HW243040, remaining committed to delivering a novel, safe, and effective non-opioid targeted therapy to the tens of millions of patients suffering from peripheral neuropathic pain in China. Ultimately, this agent aims to enrich the clinical armamentarium and address the long-standing lack of optimal pharmacological treatments in this field.
About Humanwell R&D Institute
Humanwell Pharmaceutical Research and Development Institute is the central R&D organization of Humanwell Healthcare and the core engine driving Humanwell's innovation-led development. It undertakes Humanwell's strategic transformation mission and provides essential support for building a global R&D system and advancing toward a world-class life sciences enterprise. Focused on innovative drug development and guided by unmet clinical needs, the Institute continues to deepen its expertise in Humanwell's key therapeutic areas, leveraging strong in-house R&D and translational capabilities to establish and reinforce Humanwell's research advantages in core niche segments. With patient needs as its founding mission and technological innovation as its driving force, the Institute is committed to advancing the field of life and health sciences, empowering human health through high-quality innovative medicines, and helping Humanwell build global competitiveness. For more updates on our R&D progress, follow the official WeChat account "Humanwell Pharmaceutical Research Institute".
参考文献:
[1] Finnerup N B, Kuner R, Jensen T S. Neuropathic pain: from mechanisms to treatment[J]. Physiological reviews, 2020.
[2] Alles S R A, Smith P A. Etiology and pharmacology of neuropathic pain[J]. Pharmacological reviews, 2018, 70(2): 315-347.
[3] Sloan G, Selvarajah D, Tesfaye S. Pathogenesis, diagnosis and clinical management of diabetic sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy[J]. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 2021, 17(7): 400-420.
[4] Thouaye M, Yalcin I. Neuropathic pain: From actual pharmacological treatments to new therapeutic horizons[J]. Pharmacology & therapeutics, 2023, 251: 108546.
[5] Steckelings U M, Widdop R E, Sturrock E D, et al. The angiotensin AT2 receptor: from a binding site to a novel therapeutic target[J]. Pharmacological Reviews, 2022, 74(4): 1051-1135.
[6] Balogh M, Aguilar C, Nguyen N T, et al. Angiotensin receptors and neuropathic pain[J]. Pain reports, 2021, 6(1): e869.
[7] Smith M T. Nonopioid analgesics discovery and the Valley of Death: EMA401 from concept to clinical trial[J]. Pain, 2022, 163(S1): S15-S28.
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