By Patrick Robinson

NOTE: The British Medical publication Lancet has published a study on a medication from WinSanTor.

Read it here.

Original post May 2025

I and millions of other people suffer from a condition called Peripheral Neuropathy. It's a condition that means painful, burning and numb feet and can lead to more serious damage. It makes it hard to walk or stand for extended periods too. There is no cure.  There are many causes for the condition and often it is treated by neurologists who prescribe medications like Gabapentin, Lyrica (Pregabalin), and others. Many of them have side effects and while some patients report relief of some level of symptoms the results are different for many. I have tried many of the OTC remedies and pills from Lion's Mane mushroom caplets, Blessed Thistle caplets, R-Alpha Lipoic Acid,  Circumin, Vitamin B-12, Vitamin B-1, Red Light therapy, Tens unit therapy, acupuncture, Lidocaine creams, magnesium creams, even Vicks Vapo rub at night with socks. I have purchased 10 different pairs of shoes. Virtually none of it has made any kind of significant difference. That doesn't mean I have given up or stopped seeking a solution. My search led me to one that looks to have the most promise. I am looking forward to further developments. It gives  me hope. That's why I'm sharing this now.

Beyond symptom relief: A shift in the fight against Peripheral Neuropathy

For the millions living with peripheral neuropathy, the search for relief can feel endless—and often confusing. The market is flooded with creams, supplements, socks, devices, and other products claiming to support or restore nerve health. Many include ingredients like CBD, L-arginine, or  R-alpha-lipoic acid and are marketed as safe and effective. The seemingly endless stream of social media ads are filled with glowing testimonials, but most of these products aren’t required to prove anything beyond basic safety. They’re sold as supplements or consumer medical devices, not as medicines—meaning they avoid the kind of testing and regulation drugs must pass through.

The difference between hope and proof

While many of these products offer comfort or promise, they aren’t required to show they work—at least not the way medicines are. Supplements, consumer devices, and cosmetics are sold under different regulatory frameworks than drugs. They're specifically prohibited from claiming to cure or reverse disease, which is why their labels often include the disclaimer: “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”

Actual drugs, by contrast, must go through structured clinical trials—rigorous, multi-phase studies designed to determine safety and efficacy. The gold standard is the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: a setup where neither the patient nor the doctor knows who is receiving the active drug versus a placebo. This design helps ensure results are based on data—not expectation or belief.

Where WinSanTor Is different

That’s where a company called WinSanTor comes in. Unlike many products that are marketed using language like “nerve support” or “regeneration” without requiring evidence, WinSanTor’s approach is built on lab research and validated in human trials. The company was co-founded by the leading researchers in diabetic peripheral neuropathy to pursue an ambitious goal: not just easing symptoms, but actually helping damaged nerves regrow—something few treatments have ever shown in rigorous clinical studies.

The drug is based on research from academic scientists who found that blocking a specific muscarinic receptor in nerve cells could jump-start regeneration. The active ingredient, Pirenzepine, had already been available in Europe for unrelated conditions. WinSanTor’s version, a variation of this drug, is applied topically and appears to reactivate mitochondria—cellular powerhouses—at the nerve endings, triggering localized nerve repair. Because it stays mostly in the skin and doesn’t circulate widely in the bloodstream, it has shown a promising early safety profile.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many trials were halted, WinSanTor completed two Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies—an impressive feat under challenging conditions. Each trial included fewer than 50 participants and was designed to detect early biological and clinical signals.

What Did the Studies Show?

• Nerve Regeneration: Skin biopsies taken before and after treatment revealed significant nerve regrowth in patients receiving the drug. The p-value—used to assess statistical confidence—was 0.001, meaning there’s a 99.9% likelihood the effect wasn’t due to chance.
• Improved Function: Participants on the drug improved in mobility and function, based on standard clinical tools and fitness tracking data. While these results didn’t quite reach traditional statistical significance (p-values of 0.053 and 0.065), they showed strong trends considered meaningful in early-stage research.
• Reduced Pain: Though not the primary goal, participants reported a 10% drop in chronic pain. Pain is especially complex—it's subjective, tied to emotional memory, and often persists even after tissue heals. That’s why pain relief from regenerative treatments may lag behind biological repair, but the early data is encouraging.
• Safety: The only notable side effect was mild skin irritation, typically resolved with moisturizer. Systemic absorption was minimal.

A Narrow Focus on Pain—For a Minority of Patients

Most pharmaceutical and consumer products for neuropathy still focus narrowly on pain—typically by dulling or masking sensation. But pain affects only about 20% of people with peripheral neuropathy. For the majority, symptoms like numbness, tingling, and loss of coordination dominate. These are signs of nerve degeneration, not just discomfort, and masking them doesn’t address the disease. That’s why WinSanTor’s regenerative approach could be so important: it targets the underlying damage rather than the surface symptoms.

Looking Ahead: A Cross-Continental Strategy

Regulatory paths differ by region, and WinSanTor is advancing in Europe first, where Pirenzepine’s prior approval and clearer guidance from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) create a more defined route. The company plans a 350-patient Phase 3 trial with a European partner, aiming for approval by 2028.

In the U.S., where the FDA has historically prioritized pain reduction as a benchmark, the path is more uncertain. But regulatory interest in disease-modifying therapies is growing. Meanwhile, WinSanTor plans to launch a U.S. compassionate use program to provide access at cost to eligible patients, and to seek conditional approval in Canada, which could make the drug available years ahead of full approval.

A Challenge of Awareness and Funding

Despite its scientific progress, WinSanTor—like many early-stage biotech firms—faces steep financial hurdles. Venture funding for drug development has tightened, and neuropathy still receives limited attention despite its widespread impact.

Stanley Kim, the CEO co-founder of WinSanTor believes awareness must come from the grassroots: patients, caregivers, and clinicians who understand the toll of the disease and demand more than short-term symptom relief.

What Patients Can Do

While no single treatment is guaranteed, WinSanTor’s case highlights the importance of research-backed solutions. Patients can help advance the field by:

• Talking openly about their experiences to raise awareness.
• Asking their doctors about clinical trials and investigational programs.
• Participating in advocacy efforts or research surveys.
• Being cautious of unproven products, and asking whether claims are supported by data—not just testimonials.

As science catches up with the scale of the problem, the hope is that more treatments grounded in evidence—not just marketing—will become available to those who need them most.