What You Missed in 2026
The race to deliver safe, effective non-opioid pain therapeutics has never been more urgent - or more achievable. After decades of setbacks, the field is achieving long-awaited progress with recent regulatory approvals from Tonix and Vertex, strategic acquisitions from Eli Lilly, and late-stage successes validating the commercial potential of novel mechanisms.
However, the clinical pathway for pain remains one of the most challenging in drug development, requiring smarter trial design, validated endpoints, patient stratification strategies, and strong regulatory engagement.
The Inaugural Non-Opioid Pain Therapeutics Summit is the only meeting dedicated to overcoming the unique scientific and clinical barriers in pain drug development. In 2026, discussions focused on optimizing trial design in chronic pain, advancing mechanism-specific biomarkers, addressing placebo response and patient stratification, and aligning with regulators on validated endpoints.
With case studies spanning NaV inhibitors, novel receptor targets, and first-in-class modalities, the summit provided the scientific depth and clinical perspective required to move non-opioid pain candidates successfully through the pipeline.
Event Highlights
Workshop: Advancing Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) for Pain
Attendees learned from Vertex how to capture more meaningful, accurate patient data that drives regulatory confidence and improves trial outcomes. This workshop demonstrated how evolving PRO methodologies and advanced technologies reduce subjectivity and recall bias, and provides practical strategies to assess pain in context. This workshop helped attendees design trials that truly reflect patient benefit.
You missed walking away from this workshop with actionable frameworks and tools to strengthen PRO integration, optimize endpoints, and enhance data credibility in your pain programs.
Pharma Panel: Search & Discovery in Pain Therapeutics
Attendees heard directly from senior pharma leaders on how to prioritize targets and design translational strategies that increase the probability of clinical success.
Discussions included evaluating NaV channels versus emerging mechanisms, leveraging human biology datasets, and generating preclinical evidence beyond animal models.
Attendees gained insider perspectives on how leading companies de-risk pain programs, identify high-value targets, and accelerate candidates from discovery to the clinic.
Novel Targets for Pain: Rethinking the Future of Therapeutics
Attendees discovered innovative approaches that could redefine pain treatment. Sessions highlight dual-target strategies (GABA-A & DHODH), targeting KCC2, inhibiting NT-3 activity and more!
You missed learning how novel mechanisms and translational strategies are delivering measurable improvements in patient outcomes, offering a roadmap for advancing your own non-opioid pain candidates.
Explore the 2026 Full Event Guide
- Get a full overview of the agenda, speakers, and session topics in one place
- Share easily with your team to assess and mobilize interest
- Preview 7+ sessions containing brand-new data that we’ll be showcasing at the event
- Discover exclusive content from keynotes, academics, C-suite leaders, biotechs and biopharma executives
- Explore attendee benefits, exclusive event insights and anticipated audience metrics
Attending Companies Included
Explore the 2026 Agenda
Interactive workshops, pharma panels and case-study led presentations: hear the industries exclusive insights
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Be part of critical conversations with expert- attendees during dedicated networking hours