The joint drug development program between the University of Pécs and Semmelweis University, which has been underway for nearly a decade and a half, has reached another significant milestone. The Hungarian drug candidate, developed to treat chronic pain and featuring a new mechanism of action, is currently in one of the most critical phases of its first human clinical trials, and if the results are favorable, patient trials could begin as early as 2027.
This development is not only a remarkable achievement from a scientific standpoint, but also strengthens the innovation potential of Pécs and Baranya County. The project clearly demonstrates that the region’s university research base plays a key role not only in basic research but also in healthcare developments that reach the clinical application stage.
The investigational drug candidate SV-1287 is currently being tested in healthy volunteers in a multiple-dose study. The goal of the study is to confirm that the drug is safe and well-tolerated during prolonged use and that it possesses the pharmacological properties necessary to proceed to the next phase of clinical development.
In the ongoing study, participants will receive the medication for ten days, while researchers conduct a detailed analysis of its effects and safety. If these results meet strict international standards, the next step will be a clinical trial involving patients suffering from chronic neuropathic pain.
What makes this drug candidate unique is that it takes a completely new approach to pain management. Nearly fifteen years of research went into its development, during which experts from Semmelweis University and the University of Pécs worked in close collaboration. The compound was originally designed at the Institute of Organic Chemistry at Semmelweis University, while its efficacy was validated by the Chronic Pain Research Group at the Institute of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of General Medicine, University of Pécs, in numerous models of neuropathic and inflammatory pain.
Over the past few years, more than a hundred researchers have participated in the research, which clearly demonstrates the complexity and significance of this development. The project has progressed from laboratory research to human clinical trials, which is one of the most difficult and costly phases of drug development.
This development carries an important message for Baranya County from both an economic and regional development perspective. In recent years, the University of Pécs has become an increasingly prominent player in healthcare innovation, biotechnology research, and translational medicine. Projects such as the development of SV-1287 could, in the long term, lead to pharmaceutical industry collaborations, patent exploitation, licensing agreements, or even new investments in the healthcare industry.
In addition, the university’s research helps Pécs further strengthen its position on the domestic and international research and development landscape and remain an attractive location for high-value-added investments in the healthcare and biotechnology sectors.
Source:
- University of Pécs, Faculty of General Medicine – A new, Hungarian-developed painkiller candidate may be tested on patients as early as next year (August 3, 2026)
- Previous PTE announcement regarding the development of SV-1287 (January 2026) (PTE Faculty of Medicine)
