Avera Pharmaceuticals - Neurovisceral Disorders

Neurovisceral disorders encompass a range of conditions arising from the interaction of the nervous system with the body’s organ systems. Avera is currently developing AV608 for the treatment of both Overactive Bladder (OAB) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

OAB syndrome is diagnosed by the presence of urinary urgency (sudden, intense desire to urinate), with or without urge urinary incontinence (unwanted urine leakage occurring after urgency). Often these symptoms occur along with frequency (need to void more than 8 times per day) and nocturia (awakening more than twice per night to void). OAB has a significant impact on the quality of life of affected individuals, altering their daily routine, reducing sleep quality, and increasing their risk of anxiety. There is a clear unmet medical need for new pharmacological treatments for patients with OAB. Current management of OAB relies primarily on anticholinergic medications that provide symptom relief in approximately two thirds of patients. However, anticholinergics are associated with side effects such as dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention and cognitive impairment. Limited efficacy and poor tolerability in some patients is associated with low treatment compliance, with only a minority of patients continued to be treated past six months.

IBS is a functional disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits (constipation- predominant, diarrhea-predominant, and/or mixed forms). This syndrome may begin in young adulthood and can be associated with significant disability. With all forms of IBS, gastrointestinal cramping and pain are hallmarks of the condition. No specific abnormality accounts for the exacerbations and remissions of abdominal pain and altered bowel habits experienced by patients with IBS. Current therapies include laxatives, antidepressants, and antispasmodics. Efficacy is limited with all approaches and, notably, there have been serious safety concerns associated with antispasmodic treatment.