cranial neuralgia, folate

#ICYMI: Researchers are Developing a New Drug for Facial Pain

In case you missed it:

Currently accepted medical approaches to the management of chronic facial pain can be burdensome at best, and wholly ineffective, at worst. A new study coming out of Switzerland claims to have found a better medicine for the management of chronic facial pain.

The substance, known as BIIB074, is a sodium channel blocker. What’s novel about it is the fact that its channel blocking properties actually become stronger when presented with an increase in pain, unlike currently available sodium channel blockers which perform the same, irrespective of fluctuations in pain level.

It is also unique in that it is a drug being developed with trigeminal neuralgia as its primary function.

From the article in Science Daily:

“Unlike conventional drugs, which often cause tiredness and concentration problems, BIIB074 was not only effective; but also very well tolerated,” explains Dominik Ettlin, a dental specialist from UZH. “We will now test the new substance in a lot more subjects during the next study phase, which will reveal whether the new hope for more effective pain relief is justified,” he concludes.

A research team led by Dr. Joanne Zakrzewska agrees that BIIB074 warrants further study.

Face Facts will be monitoring the news of the study’s next phase.


University of Zurich. (2017, February 20). Prospect for more effective treatment of nerve pain. ScienceDaily. Retrieved February 21, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170220085129.htm