AKE-1018

AKE-1018 is an orally bioavailable, peripherally restricted small molecule designed as a non-opioid treatment for chronic and neuropathic pain. It acts as a potent and selective inhibitor of the HCN1 (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 1) ion channel, which plays a key role in modulating neuronal excitability in peripheral sensory neurons. By inhibiting HCN1 activity, AKE-1018 aims to reduce hyperexcitability of pain-sensing neurons without affecting central nervous system function, thereby minimizing the risk of CNS-related side effects such as sedation or addiction. The drug was initially developed by The Trustees of Columbia University in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine and is being advanced by Akelos Inc., which holds exclusive licensing rights. Preclinical studies have demonstrated efficacy in animal models of mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity with an excellent safety profile at doses exceeding ten times the lowest effective dose[1][3][4][5][6].