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Low back pain is a major clinical problem second only to
the common cold in its financial and symptomatic impact on human suffering. It has been estimated that 20 percent of the adult
population has consulted a heath care provider for low back pain and
currently 5 million Americans are partially disabled by low back pain. Therefore, the commercial potential of a
novel treatment is quite significant. The study of low back pain has been hindered, until
recently by the absence of an animal model. Two recent scientific
developments enable a more effective strategy to investigate fundamental
mechanisms of low back pain in humans.
First, a rat model of lumbar radiculopathy has been developed and
further characterized by investigators at Recently, it was discovered that methotrexate, currently
used in the United States for the treatment of neoplastic diseases,
rheumatoid arthritis, and immunosuppression has efficacy in a low back pain
model in the rat. This is a novel
application for an approved drug.
Methotrexate possesses two distinct mechanisms of action: 1:
inhibitor of DNA synthesis at high doses and; 2: an antiinflammatory
agent at low non-toxic doses. We
showed analgesic efficacy in our low back pain model using low dose,
intrathecal administration. The therapeutic use of this drug
is claimed in the published PCT Application No. PCT/US99/25187. We are seeking an industrial partner who is
interested in the commercialization of this drug for the treatment of low
back pain. (Ref: J12) |
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«Technology Transfer Office : Sponsored Projects : Dartmouth College |
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11 Rope Ferry Road #6210 |
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Hanover, NH 03755-1404 |
Phone: (603) 646-3027 |
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Fax: (603) 646-3670 |
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