Ethismos is planning to enter a major phase 2 program evaluating amitifadine for the treatment of musculoskeletal chronic low back pain (mCLBP). Amitifadine has non-opioid analgesic properties with antidepressant/anti-anxiety/anti-catastrophizing properties enabling treatment of mCLBP and the affective (emotional) symptoms associated with chronic pain.

Amitifadine is a triple reuptake inhibitor (SNDRI) with serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) potency very similar to Cymbalta (duloxetine). On the other hand, amitifadine has dopamine potency much higher than duloxetine. This pharmacological profile gives amitifadine the potential to treat chronic pain with a mechanism identical to duloxetine yet treat the emotional symptoms of pain such as anhedonia (inability to experience joy), impairment of cognition, and lack of motivation that result from low levels of brain dopamine as a result of chronic pain.   

This clinical trial program is being designed and executed in collaboration with Dr. Robert Dworkin, University of Rochester, a leading pain researcher who was a major contributor to the design of the Cymbalta pain program for Lilly.