possible to get topical pirenzepine for PN prior to FDA approval?

Posted by proteusx @proteusx, Oct 1 9:24pm

WinSanTor is developing a topical version of pirenzepine that in Phase I and II trials looks quite promising, not only for pain but for some possible nerve regeneration, as well. I received this communications from the company yesterday:

With nearly 40 million Americans affected by peripheral neuropathy, the need for effective treatments has never been more urgent. At WinSanTor, we are dedicated to bringing relief to those suffering from this debilitating condition, and we are thrilled to offer compassionate use access to our promising drug, WST-057. We are close to launching the program.

But here's the challenge: We have 2,000 spots available, yet only a little over 100 people have signed up. If peripheral neuropathy is affecting so many lives, we should have far more people expressing interest. This low registration doesn't reflect the true demand for new treatments, and without enough participants, we cannot move forward with the program.

This is a critical moment. We need to demonstrate that there is not only a need for a solution but also a demand for it. WinSanTor has tried everything to show there is a demand. Now it's your turn. By registering, you send a powerful message that those living with peripheral neuropathy are eager for better treatment options.

What can you do?
Register Today: If you're interested in compassionate use (of WST-057), sign up now to be considered.
Financial concerns?: We understand your concerns. We are working on a payment plan. Unfortunately, WinSanTor has limited resources and providing WST-057 at our cost (audited per FDA requirements)
Spread the Word: Encourage others in your network who are affected to register. Every registration brings us one step closer to launching this program.
Show Demand: We need several thousand people on our list before we can proceed. Your registration isn't just about access—it's about showing the world that peripheral neuropathy patients need better solutions.
Donate: WinSanTor has committed to setting aside resources for the Expanded Access Program. now we need your help.

If you are interested in participating in the Expanded Access Program, PLEASE FILL OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM.

Go to the WinSanTor website for more details and to obtain the application form if interested. If you want to get into the compassionate use program, allowed by the FDA, you will need a doctor referral/contact/diagnosis, and the cost of the drug without financial assistance is about $1900 for the six month trial, as I understand it.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

Yes, unfortunately research on PN in general is underfunded, as it has proved so resistant to treatment (other than for blunting pain). And it is no surprise that the pharmaceutical companies focus mostly on diabetic PN since it is the major cause of the disease and is the largest market in this domain I believe, however, that some things that may help with diabetic PN might also have some efficacy in other forms of neuropathy.

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@proteusx

If you haven't already done so, please register with them. They need a lot more people to register before the FDA will allow them to provide this on a "compassionate use" basis. Yes, pirenzepine has been used for decades orally for various ailments and is effective but has some serious, though not frequent, side effects when used by the oral route. WinSanTor's drug is a topical version of this that eliminates most of the side effects. Unfortunately, the FDA is attuned primarily to drugs that treat peripheral neuropathy pain not drugs that can actually modify the course of the disease; so it will take longer and be much more expensive to get this through a phase 3 trial and win FDA approval. Time will tell, but in the meantime this compassionate use option is well worth pursuing.

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I’ve filled out this registration and am willing to pay for it but have had no reply from the company. Is WinSanTor communicating back with any of you?

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@artemis1886

I would sign up but like always it’s aimed at diabetics not other groups of people. Mine is autoimmune so I can’t sign up. I feel like the pharmaceutical companies are always discriminating against the other groups. You listen to the seminars and they are all aimed at diabetics. You google autoimmune neuropathy and you find very little information.

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They are now accepting applications from all groups not just those with diabetic neuropathy.

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@cecelia19

I’ve filled out this registration and am willing to pay for it but have had no reply from the company. Is WinSanTor communicating back with any of you?

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Not yet. They may wait until they get the minimum number of registrations the FDA requires before they can go ahead with the compassionate use program.

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@bb0753

They are now accepting applications from all groups not just those with diabetic neuropathy.

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Good to know.

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@cecelia19

I’ve filled out this registration and am willing to pay for it but have had no reply from the company. Is WinSanTor communicating back with any of you?

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I signed up too but have not heard bk.

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I’m interested as well, but question for the group is it normal to charge patients to go into a trial ?
2000 * $1900 = $3.8M

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@furdog

I’m interested as well, but question for the group is it normal to charge patients to go into a trial ?
2000 * $1900 = $3.8M

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Nothing normal about it in my personal opinion. They don't have the funding behind them to proceed with the clinical trial so they need interested parties (patients who need the drug) to proceed with the trial. I guess if it were me and I had the pain and the money to participate, it would be something I would consider.

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It isn’t a trial. It’s an FDA “compassionate use” option the company is seeking while it pursues drug approval ( big difference) which is liable to take some time. And, yes, it us normal to charge for drugs approved for compassionate use.

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They are not charging for people who get approved for phase 3. They are trying to get the FDA to allow people who are interested in receiving early compassionate access which is not part of phase 3 trial. . If early access is allowed and you are accepted you would be paying for the medicine which I believe is about $300 per month. I would gladly pay that for something that has been shown to regenerate nerves not cover pain. Actually I'm paying about $200 per months for various supplements that I can't say helps much at all.

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