Cara Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical‐stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing new chemical entities that target the kappa opioid receptor to address unmet medical needs in pain and pruritus. Founded in 2006 as a spin‐out from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the company has advanced a proprietary portfolio of small‐molecule agonists designed to deliver analgesic and antipruritic benefits without the side effects typically associated with traditional opioid therapies.
The company’s most advanced product, difelikefalin, is approved in the United States under the trade name KORSUVA for the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe pruritus in hemodialysis patients. Cara is conducting additional trials of difelikefalin in atopic dermatitis, chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus in non‐dialysis populations and other conditions. Beyond its lead asset, the company is evaluating next‐generation kappa opioid receptor agonists in preclinical and early clinical stages to expand its pipeline into broader indications in pain management.
Headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, Cara has established strategic partnerships and licensing agreements to facilitate the global development and commercialization of its therapies. Collaborations with established pharmaceutical and specialty distributors support regulatory filings and market access across North America, Europe and select Asian markets. The company’s infrastructure integrates research, development and regulatory expertise to streamline the transition of candidates from laboratory to late‐stage clinical evaluation.
Cara Therapeutics is guided by an experienced executive team and board of directors with deep roots in biopharmaceutical research and development. The management team combines drug discovery, clinical operations and commercial strategy backgrounds, positioning the company to advance its pipeline toward potential approvals and to address significant patient needs in pruritus and pain worldwide.
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