London, UK – July 24, 2026
Persica Pharmaceuticals has presented new scientific analyses supporting the development of its investigational therapy PP353 at the American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) 2026 Annual Conference in Miami Beach, Florida. The presentations evaluated the sensitivity of microbiology assays used in previous chronic low back pain research and examined the relationship between intradiscal antibiotic exposure and patient outcomes in individuals with vertebrogenic Lumbar Back Pain (vLBP) associated with Modic changes. Building on the company’s Phase 1b PP353 study, which was published earlier this year in The Lancet eClinicalMedicine, the findings reinforce the scientific rationale for PP353, a targeted, non-opioid intradiscal therapy designed to address the underlying cause of chronic low back pain rather than simply managing symptoms. The company believes the new analyses strengthen the evidence supporting PP353 as it advances toward late-stage clinical development.
New Analyses Highlight Importance of Sensitive Microbiology Testing
The research reviewed published studies investigating bacterial infection and antibiotic treatment in patients with chronic Low Back Pain and Modic changes, identifying significant differences in laboratory methodologies. According to the analyses, many earlier studies relied on low-sensitivity microbiology techniques designed to detect acute, high-burden bacterial infections rather than the low bacterial burden associated with chronic vertebrogenic disease. The company also reported that numerous studies failed to document essential technical details, including tissue sample size, bacterial quantification, and assay detection limits, making negative microbiology results difficult to interpret. In contrast, studies employing high-sensitivity quantitative microbiology methods consistently detected low-level bacterial infections linked to Modic changes, supporting the hypothesis that bacterial involvement may contribute to chronic vertebrogenic lumbar back pain in a subset of patients.
Higher Intradiscal Antibiotic Exposure Linked to Better Patient Outcomes
Persica’s second analysis explored the relationship between estimated intradiscal antibiotic exposure and clinical outcomes across previously published studies. The results demonstrated a statistically significant exposure-response relationship, with greater antibiotic concentrations delivered directly to the affected spinal disc associated with larger improvements in both pain intensity and functional disability after 12 months. The company noted that studies using lower-dose oral antibiotic regimens may not have achieved sufficient drug exposure to adequately evaluate the biological hypothesis underlying vertebrogenic lumbar back pain. Chief Scientific Officer Lloyd Czaplewski stated that the findings provide a strong pharmacological explanation for differences observed across previous clinical trials and further support targeted intradiscal delivery as an effective therapeutic strategy for this specific patient population.
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PP353 Advances as a Targeted Non-Opioid Therapy for Vertebrogenic Back Pain
PP353 is an investigational non-opioid intradiscal injection containing linezolid in a thermosensitive formulation designed to deliver antibiotics directly to the site of disease while minimizing leakage into surrounding tissues. The therapy also includes a radio-opaque dye that enables physicians to confirm accurate placement using imaging guidance. In its previously reported Phase 1b clinical trial, PP353 demonstrated statistically significant and durable improvements in pain, disability, and reduced analgesic use, including opioids, over a 12-month period. Persica Pharmaceuticals continues to advance the program toward registrational Phase 3 trials while actively engaging with strategic partners and investors to support late-stage development. With an estimated 10 million patients across the United States and Europe affected by vertebrogenic Lumbar Back Pain with Modic changes, the company believes PP353 has the potential to offer a targeted treatment that addresses disease biology while reducing dependence on opioid-based pain management.
Source: Persica Pharmaceuticals press release
