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.