SereNeuro Therapeutics
A team of North American researchers has developed an experimental therapy that seeks to stop the onset of pain before it is perceived by the brain.
The approach described in a study on bioRxiv uses a biological “sponge” designed to intercept inflammatory signals at their source, with the aim of preventing discomfort and, in the long term, reducing the need for painkillers.
The work led by scientists at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, specialists in neuroscience and cell biology, shows that instead of acting like conventional medicines, the strategy proposes to neutralize the stimuli that trigger chronic pain before they are transmitted to the central nervous system.
A therapy SN101 is based on human pluripotent stem cells reprogrammed to become sensory neurons. These neurons do not replace existing ones, he emphasizes: they coexist with the original cells and seek to alter the inflammatory environment that, in many degenerative conditions, amplifies the perception of pain.
In preclinical tests, researchers used mice with osteoarthritis, a disease marked by persistent inflammation, joint stiffness and continued pain. After local injection of neurons “designed” in the laboratory, the animals showed a reduction in the pain response.
The proposed mechanism is similar to that of a cellular “isco”. The new cells would function like a sponge, absorbing inflammatory factors before they are detected by the original sensory neurons. By reducing the capture of these signals, the nerve pathway that would lead to the conscious perception of pain would be interrupted, preventing the message from reaching the brain.
In addition to pain control, the study reports an eventual improvement in cartilage and bone regeneration. But SN101 remains in the preclinical phase and needs more data on safety and efficacy before moving into human trials.
