Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical's Major Advancements in Addiction Therapy
Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Huntington, New York, has made significant strides in developing affordable therapies aimed at treating diseases driven by inflammation. Their latest breakthrough relates to addiction treatment, where they have successfully filed a new U.S. provisional patent for a therapy targeting stimulant withdrawal. This innovative approach is particularly relevant in light of the ongoing methamphetamine epidemic, which currently lacks any FDA-approved treatments.
The Stimulant Crisis
Research indicates that over
1.6 million Americans are grappling with methamphetamine use disorder. Alarmingly, deaths associated with stimulant overdoses have surged, tripling in the past five years according to the NIH and CDC. The opioid epidemic has overshadowed this emerging crisis, yet it represents a dual public health emergency that necessitates alternative treatment strategies.
Breakthrough Patent Filing
The newly secured patent titled "
Compositions and Methods for Stimulant Withdrawal" is a culmination of Sen-Jam's collaborative efforts with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under its Addiction Treatment Discovery Program (ATDP). The preclinical study results have shown that Sen-Jam’s
SJP-005, a proprietary combination drug, can significantly mitigate hyperactivity caused by methamphetamine without generating stimulant-like effects or addiction in validated rodent models.
The preclinical data revealed that the drug reduces behavioral stimulation and lightens withdrawal symptoms in animals previously exposed to methamphetamines, indicating its potential as a novel anti-inflammatory intervention in treating stimulant dependence.
A New Approach to Addiction
As pointed out by
Jacqueline Iversen, the Founder and Chief Clinical Officer of Sen-Jam, this research highlights that neuroinflammation is a key factor in addiction. By tackling both inflammation and neuronal recovery, SJP-005 could redefine approaches to treating substance use disorders safely and effectively, avoiding the pitfalls of addictive substitutes.
Unlike conventional methods that focus on alleviating withdrawal symptoms, SJP-005 operates by targeting glial activation and neuroinflammation, making it a
first-in-class non-opioid therapy capable of addressing multiple substance use disorders simultaneously via a single inflammation-modulating mechanism.
Linking Past Success with Future Possibilities
This latest patent builds on previous research related to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), where SJP-005 demonstrated a capability to diminish withdrawal symptoms by as much as 50% and shorten recovery times in preclinical settings. These positive outcomes outline Sen-Jam's potential to transform addiction treatment into a clinically impactful endeavor.
Sen-Jam is set to initiate formulation and CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) development later this year with its venture partner
KVK Tech. The partnership is exploring further investments to expedite this work, and they aim to file an Investigational New Drug (IND) application by 2026 to move SJP-005 into first-in-human studies.
Collaborative Efforts in the Biotech Space
CEO
Jim Iversen emphasized that this accomplishment illustrates the effectiveness of partnerships between innovative biotech firms and health agencies like NIDA. The company is committed to developing not just treatments for addictions but also ensuring that they are accessible, affordable, and non-opioid solutions that address pressing public health issues.
Conclusion
Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical is at the forefront of a critical movement to reimagine addiction therapies through research-driven, scientifically validated methods. With a robust pipeline of over 60 global patents and multiple development assets, Sen-Jam continues to address key global health challenges, including addiction and inflammatory diseases. To learn more about their commitments and progress, visit their website at
Sen-Jam Pharmaceutical.