Chronic pain affects more than 30% of the world population. Although there are many drugs that relieve chronic pain, most have limitations, including incomplete efficacy, severe side effects, and, in some cases, high costs. For these reasons, there is a need for innovative drugs with better efficacy and safety profiles than the pain relievers currently available.

 

FloNext was founded by three university faculty members, Pierangelo Geppetti, Romina Nassini, and Francesco De Logu, with consolidated experience in the identification of cellular and molecular mechanisms, including TRP channels and Schwann cells, which are behind chronic inflammatory, neuropathic, and cancer pain. These academics have received grants from the European Research Council and the Italian Association for Cancer Research.

 

Diatech srl, a holding company of a group of SMEs dealing with personalized therapy and pharmacogenetics, is a strategic partner of the project. The company, founded in 1994, has developed numerous spinoffs, thanks to the activity of its founding partner and President, Fabio Biondi, and CEO, Oliva Alberti: Diatech Lab Line, Diatech Pharmacogenetics, Lion Dx, BiMind, (currently operational); and Explera soft, Explera srl, Arrow Diagnostics, Pharmadiagen, and Genetic Lab, which were incubated for a few years then sold to multinational companies that are specialists in their sectors. The directors, Fabio Biondi and Oliva Alberti, have also contributed to the realization of research projects of European significance. In 2015, Diatech Pharmacogenetics won a grant funded by the H2020 SME program.