MAXONA Pharmaceuticals, a privately held, Malvern, Pennsylvania-based clinical-stage drug developer, is moving closer to a new U.S. patent covering the use of nefopam to treat pruritus, or itch, the company announced on October 27, 2026. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a notice of allowance for the company’s method-of-treatment application. MAXONA also launched preclinical work on MAX-425, a nefopam-based candidate for chronic itch.
“Today’s developments reflect MAXONA’S commitment to fully exploring the potential of nefopam as a therapeutic agent and further strengthening the Company’s intellectual property position,” said Shawn Fatholahi, President and CEO of MAXONA Pharmaceuticals.
Inside the Patent
A notice of allowance means the USPTO has accepted the application (No. 19/718,131) and intends to grant the patent. MAXONA expects the final patent to be issued by year-end. It also plans to file a continuation application to seek additional protection for nefopam in itch.
Once issued, the patent will bring MAXONA’s total to six U.S. patents covering nefopam compositions and uses.
A New Program for Chronic Itch
MAX-425 is being developed for chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO), persistent itching with no identifiable cause that lasts six weeks or longer. MAXONA cites estimates that about 2 million people in the U.S. have CPUO. According to the company, there are no FDA-approved treatments for the condition, and patients typically rely on trial and error with off-label products.
“CPUO is a serious and debilitating condition that significantly impacts quality of life so there is a compelling need to identify new and better treatment options,” Fatholahi said.
MAXONA says its early research suggests MAX-425 may treat CPUO through multiple mechanisms of action in both the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Where MAX-001 Stands
Nefopam is also the active ingredient in MAX-001, MAXONA’s lead program for acute and chronic pain. MAX-001 is an investigational extended-release formulation of nefopam, a non-opioid, non-NSAID pain reliever. Nefopam has been studied and prescribed for pain outside the United States but is not approved in the U.S.
MAX-001 is designed to provide both rapid onset and extended pain relief. It works by blocking the reuptake of three neurotransmitters: norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine.
About MAXONA Pharmaceuticals
MAXONA develops treatments for acute and chronic pain that avoid the side effects and addiction risks associated with opioids and NSAIDs. According to the company, it has completed IND-enabling preclinical studies and Phase 1 trials for MAX-001. Its leadership team brings expertise in neuroscience, drug development, formulation and delivery technology, clinical trial design, and pharmacology.
