Active immunotherapy targeting nerve growth factor for hard-to-manage pain
Official title: Development of an Anti-Nerve Growth Factor Active Immunotherapy for Difficult-to-Manage Pain
Funded at Twilight Bioscience, INC. · NIH-11409448 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new vaccine-like therapy aims to prevent pain by training the body to neutralize nerve growth factor in people with chronic pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Twilight Bioscience, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Topsfield, United States) |
| Project start | September 24, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $350,188 |
| NIH project number | 1R43NS149971-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11409448 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with chronic inflammatory or neuropathic pain who could benefit from NGF-targeted treatment in future trials.
✕Less likely to help
People without chronic pain or those unlikely to respond to NGF-targeted approaches may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project develops an active immunotherapy using an Fc-fusion design to trigger the body's own antibodies against nerve growth factor (NGF) to reduce pain. It will create several candidate constructs, test their ability to block NGF and produce strong immune responses, and choose the best lead for further development. Preclinical tests in rat pain models will assess whether the therapy reduces pain behaviors and protects joint health, while also checking safety and manufacturability. The goal is a more affordable, less invasive option that could complement or replace some current pain treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with chronic pain may experience meaningful relief with a potentially cheaper and easier-to-administer therapy.
How similar studies have gone: While NGF-targeted antibodies have shown pain relief, active immunotherapy represents a novel approach and findings will be exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Twilight Bioscience, INC.
Topsfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verma, Ajay — Twilight Bioscience, INC.
- Study coordinator: Verma, Ajay
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.