• Akelos Inc.
    An Emerging Leader in Treating Neuropathic Pain

Akelos Inc. is a biopharmaceutical clinical company focused on the translation of innovative science into treatment. The company currently is developing novel non-narcotic drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The goal of Akelos is to address some of today’s most pressing areas of unmet needs.

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Akelos: Building New Frontiers to Address Neuropathic Pain

Akelos is an innovative research-based biotechnology company founded to address the Opioid epidemic through opioid alternatives, with two drug candidates in pre-clinical development. Akelos has proudly entered into a research collaboration to develop and commercialize a novel, non-opioid anti-hyperalgesic drug to treat chronic and neuropathic pain.

Unsatisfied Market

Neuropathic pain represents 18% of chronic pain cases and impacts 100 - 560 million people globally. Akelos focuses on three key segments: diabetic neuropathy, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and post-herpetic neuralgia.

Market Growth

The global market was estimated at $5.4 billion in 2016, and is projected to reach $8.3 billion by 2024.

Opioid Crisis

Opioids are routinely prescribed for neuropathic pain, but their effectiveness is limited. Less than 35% of patients achieving meaningful benefits from current therapeutic approaches. In addition, opioid treatment poses substantial safety risks. We believe it's time to pursue safe and effective treatments.

An estimated 20 million people in the United States live with chronic neuropathic pain, for which opioid medication is a common treatment. The opioid epidemic was cited as a causal factor in more than 50,000 deaths in 2015 alone; The problem is global.

Meet Our Team

Steven R. Fox. DDS

Founder

Peter Hutt

FDA Counsel

Robert Benson PhD.

Intellectual Property Advisor

Thomas G. Heffner, PhD.

Strategic Advisor

Roger Frechette, PhD

Director of Operations & Business Development

Senator Thomas Daschle

Strategic Healthcare Advisor

Peter Goldstein, MD

Scientific Founder

Charles B. Berde, MD, PhD

Scientific Advisory Board

Michael Levitt PhD

Scientific Advisory Board

Gareth R. Tibbs Ph.D.

Scientific Founder

Dianna E. Willis, Ph.D

Scientific Advisory Board

David Warren, Ph.D

Scientific Advisory Board

Darryle D. Schoepp, Ph.D

Scientific Advisory Board

Cyrus Arman, PhD, MBA

Head of Business Development

Scott L. Dax, MS, PhD

Research and Development Champion

Akelos is a collaboration founded to develop opioid drug alternatives.


Researchers at Weill Cornell University and Columbia University have developed novel compounds for the treatment of neuropathic pain, resulting in intellectual property that is jointly owned by Cornell and Columbia. Akelos has licensed this intellectual property and is developing a treatment for neuropathic pain using the novel compounds.


"The unprecedented opioid epidemic has made it all the more important to develop new medications that relieve pain without the addictive qualities that can lead to dependency. Our medical research, led by Dr. Goldstein, is a critical step to realizing the goal of an opioid alternative."
- Dr. Steven Fox, Chairman of Akelos Inc.

  • Research Findings

    • Primary sensory neurons play a pivotal role in modulating neuropathic pain
    • When sensory neurons are injured, HCN1 activity is enhanced
    • Akelos’ compounds are intended to selectively and potently inhibit HCN1 channel activity to limit the experience of pain

Akelos in the News

Akelos Inc. Announces Japan Patent Office Allowance Of Patent Claiming its Lead Compound

Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel, non-opioid anti- hyperalgesic drug...

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Alkylphenol Binding Site Identified in Human HCN1 Channels

In a just published study in the journal Nature, three research teams identify the binding site in human HCN1 (hHCN1) ion channel...

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Scott L. Dax, MS, PhD, Research and Development Champion, Joins Scientific Advisory Board of Akelos Inc.

Akelos Inc. Appoints Dr. Scott L. Dax to Scientific Advisory Board, Furthering Research and Development of Non-Opioid Solutions for Chronic...

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The Exit: Raising $70 Million and Going Public with Dr. Steve Fox

This is an incredible story of Dr Steve Fox bringing together some of the best minds in the country to change the world of teeth hygiene forever. Raising $70 Million...

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Cyrus Arman, PhD MBA, Joins Akelos Inc., as Head of Business Development

Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel, non-opioid anti-hyperalgesic drug to treat...

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Transforming Dentistry and Beyond: A Conversation with Dr. Steven Fox

In this episode, we delve into Dr. Fox’s groundbreaking work in dentistry, where he transformed the industry with innovative oral...

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Akelos Study in The British Journal of Anesthesia

Potential Neuropathic Pain Treatment Shows Promise in Preclinical Tests. A non-opioid designer molecule for treating chronic neuropathic ...

Akelos Inc. Announces United States Patent and Trademark Office Allowance of Patent Claiming its Lead Compound

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES, February 14, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Akelos Inc., announces that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has allowed a patent application (17/254,787). . .

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Darryle D. Schoepp, Ph.D., Former Merck and Eli Lilly Executive, Joins Scientific Advisory Board of Akelos Inc., Biotechnology Company

NEW YORK, February 1, 2023 (Newswire.com) - Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel, non-opioid anti-hyperalgesic drug to treat ...

Akelos Inc. Receives Prestigious Grant From NINDS of the National Institute of Health

Akelos Inc. has been awarded a Phase I/II Fast-Track Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant. . .

Akelos Inc. is named one of the 29 Best New York City Biopharma Companies and Startups

Akelos is a new biopharmaceutical company focused on the translation of innovative science into treatment.

Akelos Inc.'s SAB Member Co-Authors Paper Validating HCN1 as a Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain

NEW YORK, February 5, 2021 (Newswire.com) - Dr. Peter Goldstein, scientific co-founder . . .

Akelos Inc.'s Lead Compound Achieves Preclinical Milestone

. . .These results clearly validate the lead molecule as an effective approach to relieving neuropathic pain, which is notoriously difficult to treat. That it is a non-opiate only enhances its usefulness. . .

Akelos Inc.'s PCT International Patent Application, Licensed From Cornell University, Has Published

Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel, non-opioid anti-hyperalgesic drug to treat chronic and neuropathic . . .

Thomas G. Heffner, Ph.D., Former Pfizer Executive, Joins Akelos Inc. as a Strategic Advisor

NEW YORK, November 18, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​​​​​​​​Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel, non-opioid . . .

Roger Frechette, Ph.D., Joins Akelos Inc., as Director of Operations & Business Development

NEW YORK, June 17, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​​​​​​​​Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel, non-opioid . . .

Charles B. Berde, MD, PhD, Joins Scientific Advisory Board of Akelos Inc., Biotechnology Company Developing Opioid Alternatives

NEW YORK, April 29, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​​Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing ...

J. David Warren, Ph.D., Joins Scientific Advisory Board of Akelos Inc., Biotechnology Company Developing Opioid Alternatives

NEW YORK, April 25, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a ...

Akelos Inc. Identifies Key Aspects Governing Pharmacophore Interactions With Target Site

NEW YORK, February 25, 2019 (Newswire.com) - Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel, non-opioid anti-hyperalgesic drug to treat chronic ...

Senator Thomas Daschle, Former Senate Majority Leader, Appointed Strategic Healthcare Advisor to Akelos Inc., Biotechnology Company Developing Opioid Drug Alternatives

NEW YORK, April 4, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and ...

Akelos Inc. Files Third Patent Application to Develop New Treatment Option for Neuropathic Pain

NEW YORK, February 11, 2019 (Newswire.com) - Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel, non-opioid anti-hyperalgesic drug to treat ...

Robert Benson, PhD, Appointed Intellectual Property Advisor to Akelos Inc., Biotechnology Company Developing Opioid Drug Alternatives

NEW YORK, March 11, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel, non-opioid anti-hyperalgesic drug ...

Michael Levitt, PhD, a Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Appointed to the Scientific Advisory Board of Akelos Inc., Biotechnology Company Developing Opioid Drug Alternatives

NEW YORK, March 27, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​​​​​Akelos Inc., a biotechnology company currently developing and commercializing a novel...

Akelos Inc. Completes Seed Financing to Fund Development of a Novel Treatment for Neuropathic Pain.

NEW YORK, November 26, 2018 (Newswire.com) - Akelos Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of new drugs for neuropathic pain announced ...

Akelos Inc. Enters Collaboration to Develop Novel Treatment for Chronic and Neuropathic Pain

NEW YORK, November 5, 2018 (Newswire.com) - Akelos Inc., a new biopharmaceutical company focused on the translation of innovative science into treatment ...

On May 14, 2019 the United States Patent and Trademark Office Issued a Notice of Allowance for the Akelos Trademark

NEW YORK, May 21, 2019 (Newswire.com) - ​​​​Akelos’s application to register its trademark AKELOS took another step...