has the highest overdose mortality rate in the nation with the
surrounding states of Ohio and Pennsylvania trailing close
behind.
“It is a big, big problem—much more than at the peak of
the AIDs crisis or the number of car accidents,” says Rezai.
“West Virginia is at the forefront of the opioid crisis, and we
want to be at the forefront of the innovation and technology
to help it and prevent it.”
Through a clinical trial that tests the effectiveness of an
injectable non-opioid, non-steroid micropellet to treat sciatica,
RNI is positioning itself to fill that role.
The injectable micropellet is
smaller than a grain of rice.
In November 2018, RNI successfully enrolled and treated
the first patient in a phase III clinical trial that tests how effec-
tive an injectable non-opioid, non-steroid micropellet can be in
treating sciatica. In the procedure, a clonidine micropellet half
the size of a grain of rice was inserted into the patient’s lower
back, where it will remain for up to one year. Historically,
clonidine has been used to treat pain and high blood pressure.
“Even though West Virginia is leading the nation in over-
dose deaths, it is now taking the lead in helping find an answer
for this epidemic by being the first in the world to launch this
phase III clinical trial,” says Rezai. “If the study is successful,
instead of taking opioids for chronic pain, patients would be
able to get an injectable pellet that dissolves over time and treats
their pain. Phase I and II have been promising, so now we are
doing this next phase trial with the FDA and the company
Sollis Therapeutics.”
The principal investigator for the micropellet trial is Dr.
Richard Vaglienti, the director of the WVU Medicine Center
for Integrative Pain Management. He says a major way to
prevent opioid misuse is to minimize the number of opioids
that are prescribed.
“There is a group of people that is already addicted to
opioids, and that is a single problem in and of itself,” says Vagli-
enti. “Then there’s a second group that is made up of those
individuals who have chronic pain that prior to now would
have gone on to use chronic opioids, and now we’re develop-
ing a bunch of other treatment processes to prevent that group
from transitioning into the dependent group. So, we have a
two-prong mission we’re on.”
RESULTS DELIVERED:
350 Workers’
Compensation
Reforms
$
MILLION
75
Corporate
Net Income
MILLION Tax Savings
$
Elimination
Of Business
MILLION Franchise Tax
$
Saving your business over
$1,000 per worker annually
40
Preventing Increase
In Unemployment
MILLION Compensation Tax
$
$
Insurance
MILLION Reforms
A Quality Education for our Children Ensuring Legal Fairness for Your Business
Created a pathway for experienced, degreed
professionals to teach Joint and several liability reform
Medical malpractice reforms
Limiting punitive damages
Limiting employer liability related to payroll disputes
Drug-Free Workplaces Act
Human resource and labor law modernization
Opening the Doors to the World
Developing relationships with international partners
such as Canada, Great Britain, China and India
Promoting Good Government and
a Competitive Business Climate
Non-partisan election of judges
Elimination of straight-ticket voting
Creation of the Rainy Day Fund
Business tax reductions
Insurance cost reductions
Regulations that Protect the Environment
While Fostering Job Creation
Require all state agencies to periodically review
all rules and regulations
Faster permitting
Helping small and veteran-owned businesses
through simplified business compliance
Creating an Infrastructure for
the 21st Century
Passage of the Road Bond Initiatives
Creating opportunities for broadband expansion
56
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
Uniting Businesses • Advancing West Virginia