Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Vistagen (Nasdaq:VTGN) announced on Wednesday that it has received a US patent for AV-101, its oral non-opioid candidate for neuropathic pain.

The patent extends until at least 2034 and is part of the company's global intellectual property portfolio on AV-101's therapeutic applications.

Preclinical research published in The Journal of Pain demonstrated AV-101's antinociceptive effects comparable to gabapentin, but with a more favourable side effect profile. Additional studies using the Chung ligation model showed that AV-101 had a significant dose response, with efficacy similar to pregabalin.

Phase 1 clinical studies, published in the Scandinavian Journal of Pain, indicated AV-101 was well-tolerated, with no significant differences in adverse events compared to placebo. Though not designed for statistical significance, the study showed reductions in allodynia pain and hyperalgesia.

Vistagen plans to explore strategic collaborations to advance AV-101's clinical development and commercialisation for NMDA receptor-related disorders, particularly in pain management.