Uro-Lieve · Uro-Lieve: Slow-Release Capsaicin Hydrogel for Disease-Modifying Therapy of Painful Bladder Syndrome

Painful Bladder Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (IC/BPS) is a chronic, debilitating pelvic pain condition that affects millions of predominantly female patients and lacks an effective, long-lasting therapy. Existing treatments—including oral drugs, intravesical instillations, and neuromodulation—are largely palliative, short-lived, or poorly tolerated. A promising therapeutic approach based on selective desensitisation of bladder pain fibres has shown prolonged analgesic potential in clinical studies, but clinical adoption has been limited by the intense discomfort associated with administration. Uro-Lieve overcomes this barrier with a biodegradable injectable hydrogel that enables controlled, sustained local delivery of a potent neuromodulatory agent. This approach minimises acute discomfort while ensuring durable sensory desensitisation, enabling a minimally invasive, potentially disease-modifying treatment.Over 18 months, the project will optimise the hydrogel formulation, demonstrate in vivo efficacy and safety, and prepare a complete regulatory, intellectual-property, and commercialisation package. By addressing a major unmet medical need and aligning with EU priorities on women’s health and gender equality, Uro-Lieve has the potential to transform chronic bladder pain management, reduce healthcare costs, and establish a scalable platform for other visceral pain disorders.This ERC Proof of Concept will deliver a patent-protected, investor-ready technology positioned for rapid first-in-human trials and market translation.