Afferent Pharmaceuticals

Afferent Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing first-in-class medicines to treat chronic pain and other manifestations of sensory hyperactivity by targeting ATP-gated P2X3 channels on sensory nerve fibers. P2X3 antagonism represents a breakthrough and potentially transformative approach to treating chronic pain, such as osteoarthritis, back pain, visceral pain and neuropathic pain. P2X3 antagonism also may have potential in treating other disorders in which sensory nerves are hypersensitive, such as respiratory disorders (cough, asthma, COPD), and overactive bladder.

The company's lead compound, AF-219, has successfully completed four Phase 1 clinical studies, and is now being assessed in three Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies, expected to complete in 2013. Afferent also is advancing several second generation P2X3 antagonists with differentiated properties versus AF-219. These compounds (AF-220 and AF-221), are planned to complete IND enabling phases during 2013.