# Development of a Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitor to Spare or Replace Opioid Analgesics

> **NIH NIH UG3** · EICOSIS, LLC · 2020 · $3,046,519

## Abstract

Summary/Abstract
EicOsis is developing a first-in-class analgesic with efficacy against neuropathic pain that will
replace and dose spare opioids and thus prevent opioid use disorders (OUDs). The target of the
small molecule inhibitor EC5026 is the soluble epoxide hydrolase, a master regulatory enzyme
that modulates the activity of endogenous bioactive lipids. The development of EC5026 is
currently in progress and progressing to an IND filing and is poised to have a high impact in
treating chronic pain in humans. In this proposal we outline aims to reach the next steps in
clinical human clinical trials with EC5026 as well as additional preclinical studies to expand the
efficacy into models of chronic pain conditions presenting in humans which are most frequently
treated with opioids. Additionally, we propose detailed pharmacokinetic, metabolism and
distribution studies that will provide the required information for advanced clinical trials
examining efficacy in humans. We also propose to optimize a formulation to meet these needs.
All of these individual aims are structured to meet 2 year milestones (UG3) and continue to the
next planned steps in development (UH3) as these milestones are met. EicOsis is meeting
current development goals and EC5026 is well positioned to meet the urgent need of reducing
opioid use because even given the updated strategy to treating pain with multimodal
approaches, pharmaceuticals are the foundation of treating pain. EC5026 represents a first-in-
class analgesic that is not an opioid nor a NSAID but offers effective pain relief for chronic
neuropathic pain.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10026019
- **Project number:** 5UG3DA048767-02
- **Recipient organization:** EICOSIS, LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** Alan R Buckpitt
- **Activity code:** UG3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $3,046,519
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10026019

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10026019, Development of a Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitor to Spare or Replace Opioid Analgesics (5UG3DA048767-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10026019. Licensed CC0.

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