Diamyd has reported positive Phase I study results of NP2 Enkephalin, an opioid peptide for the treatment of chronic pain.

The study showed substantial and sustained reductions in pain scores in the middle and high-dose treatment arms, without any serious adverse events.

The open-label, dose-escalation trial was designed to evaluate the safety of NP2 Enkephalin and Diamyd’s nerve-targeting drug delivery system, which delivers therapeutic compounds directly to the nervous system.

The trial enrolled eight patients with intractable pain due to cancer, and three dose levels of NP2 Enkephalin were evaluated for a period of four weeks.

A Phase II study, expected to take place in the US, is being planned to verify the results.