Opioid-free gene therapy being tested now in more than 40 dogs, led by a researcher at the University of Colorado and a Front Range veterinarian, could have significant implications for the treatment of chronic pain in humans.
And to keep the research flowing, more ailing dogs are needed.
The initiative is led by CU neuroscientist and Distinguished Professor Linda Watkins, who also is co-founder and co-chair of the scientific advisory board for Xalud Therapeutics. Xalud several years ago developed XT-101, which harnessed a naturally occurring compound called Interleukin 10 (IL-10) to better mute the effect of glial cells, which Watkins sees as being a significant contributor to chronic pain.
Glial cells, the most abundant cell types in the central nervous system, are immune cells in the brain and spinal cord that cause people to ache when they’re sick — and thereby encourage them to lay low through recovery. In the event of chronic pain, Watkins believes that function gets stuck in “overdrive.”
Watkins’ studies have shown that activated glial cells produce specific inflammatory compounds that drive pain, and that after the injury or sickness fades, the cells produce IL-10 to dampen the process they initiated.
“All animals, from humans back through lizards and fish, have the DNA ‘recipe’ in the nucleus of their cells to make the potent anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), as IL-10 is nature’s anti-inflammatory, which is so important in keeping inflammation under control,” Watkins, who is traveling, said in an email.
In osteoarthritis, she said, cells do not make enough IL-10 to keep inflammation under control.
“Our IL-10 gene therapy provides the cells within the osteoarthritis joint the ‘recipe’ for making IL-10 far more efficiently and effectively.”
Watkins has joined with veterinary chronic pain specialist Rob Landry, who owns the Colorado Center for Animal Pain Management in Westminster, to launch the IL-10 research study in dogs.
So far, single injections of XT-150 have been tested in more than 40 Colorado dogs, with positive results and no adverse effects, according to a news release.
With administration of the XT-150 immune modulator, Watkins said, “the dog’s own cells become the ‘IL-10 factories’ for making lots of IL-10 continuously over months, creating a long-term suppression of osteoarthritis inflammation.
“One single injection leads to very prolonged relief of pain and disability.”
Landry voiced confidence that the research is leading in the right direction.
“This is something that can be really useful,” he said. “This is really a game changer. So many dogs are on a lot of drugs… and this is going to reduce their dependency on pharmaceuticals.”
Application of this gene-therapy on people with advanced knee osteoarthritis is now also being investigated through trials in Australia and Napa, Calif.
“The results of the two trials are still blinded — but recruitment in Australia is complete (all the subjects have received their dose) and the trial in California is also underway with several patients dosed,” Watkins said.
“What is known is that, to date, no adverse events have been observed (or) reported. Beyond that, everything is still blinded.”
Landry is optimistic for the therapy’s prospects for reducing pain and slowing down the progress of disease in humans, and said, “There’s zero effects, no toxicity, no ill effects, whatsoever.”
Watkins and Landry are looking for more dogs with advanced osteoarthritis to participate in the ongoing IL-10 study. If a dog meets the requirements to be included, treatment and follow-up assessments will be provided for free. For more information, contact Landry at 720-502-5823.
Charlie Brennan: 303-473-1327, brennanc@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/chasbrennan