No opioids after surgery: Evonik invests in Allay Therapeutics

• Implants from the U.S. startup Allay Therapeutics are designed to relieve pain after knee surgery for up to three weeks
• Technology may reduce the need for opioid painkillers
• Polymers from Evonik are a key component

Essen, Germany. Evonik has invested in the biopharmaceutical company Allay Therapeutics. The U.S.- and Singapore-based startup has developed an implant for treating pain after knee surgery. It is inserted directly into the knee and may relieve pain for up to three weeks - previous solutions work for a maximum of three days. The technology may promote the recovery process and make it possible to reduce or eliminate the administration of common opioid painkiller such as morphine or oxycodone. Biodegradable polymers from Evonik are the key to the success of this new type of pain therapy: they ensure that the active ingredients are delivered over a longer period.

Knee replacements are one of the most frequently performed surgeries worldwide. The consequences of the procedure are often painful with pain that lasts for weeks, hindering recovery. Therefore, doctors use painkiller such as opioids after these surgeries. However, they have numerous side effects, including a high risk of dependence. Allay's products, which are in the early stages of clinical development, are expected to offer an alternative. "Our products may provide patients with pain relief exactly when they need it most - for weeks instead of days. This would significantly improve and accelerate the recovery process," says Adam Gridley, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Allay Therapeutics.

Evonik sees great potential in this technology. "Allay's pain products can become a game-changer in postoperative pain management. They may reduce the problems that opioids bring, such as dependence, further hospitalization, lengthy rehabilitation, and costs to the healthcare system," says Bernhard Mohr, head of Evonik Venture Capital.  

Allay’s products are thin implants about the size of a coin. They are placed around the implanted knee joint at the end of the surgery and consist of a proven local non-opioid anesthetic and polymers from Evonik. The local anesthetic blocks the transmission of pain signals to the spinal cord, thus stopping the pain impulse before it reaches the brain. Until now, the duration of such systems was limited to a few days. Allay has succeeded in extending the delivery to up to three weeks through a novel active ingredient-polymer architecture. Evonik's polymers play a key role here: they ensure that the active ingredient is delivered in a controlled fashion over a long period. During this process, the implants gradually dissolve and are broken down by the body. The technology can be easily adapted for other orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries and Allay is currently developing a portfolio of products based on this drug-polymer architecture.

Evonik has more than 60 years of experience in technologies for the targeted delivery of medical agents. Its Health Care Business Line is a global innovation partner for the pharmaceutical industry. "We are pleased to be able to support our partner Allay in developing this promising innovation. It can fundamentally change pain management and take away patients' fear of surgery," says Paul Spencer, Head of the Drug Delivery & Products Product Line in Evonik's Health Care Business Line. Health Care supplies the biodegradable polymer processed in the Allay implant.

With more than 1.2 million knee joint interventions per year, the United States is the most relevant market for Allay's technology. The volume for the treatment of very severe, postoperative pain is estimated at $10 billion. The dramatic increase in opioid addicts in the U.S., referred to as the opioid crisis, reinforces the relevance of alternative pain therapies.

Allay Therapeutics was founded in 2016. The company is headquartered in San Jose in the US state of California with Research and Development facilities in Singapore, where the technology was developed. "We are delighted to have one of the world's leading specialty chemical companies on our side with whom we can further develop our technology," emphasizes Adam Gridley of Allay.