aXichem AB (publ), that develops and markets natural analogue industrial compounds, has filed a patent application for its product, phenylcapsaicin, as a bio-enhancer for substrates of certain Cytochrome P450 Isoforms, involved in the metabolism of several common pharmaceuticals. Phenylcapsaicin has been tested as a bio-enhancer for Cytochrome P450 Isoforms together with several active substances. Significant positive results were shown with a specific substrate of Cytochrome P450 that, among others, regulate melatonin. Melatonin is the endogenous hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Melatonin is also synthetically produced and provided for short-term treatment of insomnia and is available as an over-the-counter drug. Phenylcapsaicin’s inhibiting effect is limited to two specific Cytochrome P450 subgroups, which means low risk for it to have any unwanted effects on other active substances.

“We are very excited over the data from the studies and the opportunities this opens up in both the dietary supplement and the pharma segment. By using a phenylcapsaicin as a bio-enhancer the dosage of the active substance, in this case melatonin, can be smaller compared to standard dosages, resulting in fewer administrations, longer between administrations or smaller amounts to ingest for each administration. A reduced amount of substance also reduces the risk of developing side effects. For the producers in the growing market for melatonin it means that less raw material can be used and margins can be increased,” says Torsten Helsing, CEO of aXichem. 

A bioenhancer is an agent utilized to increase the bioavailability of a particular substance. The ability for a compound to act as a bioenhancer can be due to a variety of physiological mechanisms. One mechanism includes the inhibition of endogenous enzymes degrading the material delivered and taken up through the gut. Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) are endogenous enzymes involved in hepatic metabolism of a majority of the pharmaceuticals in use. By inhibiting such isozymes, metabolism of certain pharmaceuticals is slowed down or prevented. This may prolong the half-life of the pharmaceutical. If those pharmaceuticals are in their active form, they can exert their activity for a longer duration and they will be in a higher concentration compared to situations where those isozymes are not inhibited.

This information is such that aXichem AB (publ) is obliged to publish in accordance with the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted, through the care of the contact person, for publication on February 22, 2022, at 08:30 AM CEST.