Treat pain optimally without the risk of addiction
Now became a new one non-opioid pain reliever (analgesic) which results in fewer side effects than other strong painkillers. Another benefit is that the pain reliever does not appear to be addictive.
In a new study involving experts from University of Cambridge was found that the so-called A1R-selective agonist benzyloxy-cyclopentyladenosine (BnOCPA). strong and effective analgesic but does not cause sedation, bradycardia, hypotension, or respiratory depression. The study results can be found in the English-language journal “Nature Communications“ to be read.
Many people suffer from chronic pain
Especially at moderate to severe chronic pain Affected individuals often use painkillers, and in the UK between one-third and one-half of the population suffer from moderately to severely disabling chronic pain, the researchers report.
Such pains have a negative effect on the life quality and many of the commonly used pain relievers have side effects or they can even addictive.
Opioid crisis in the United States
Opioid drugs such as morphine and oxycodone Experts warn that they can lead to dependency and, if overdosed, have very dangerous consequences. In the USA, the use of such painkillers has already escalated to such an extent that there is now a real one Opioid crisis present.
Effect via proteins on the cell surfaces
Many medications have an overactive effect Proteins on the surface of cells, which activate so-called adapter molecules (G proteins). This activation can be a variety of cellular effects trigger, explains the team.
According to the researchers, BnOCPA is in this respect unique, as it only activates one type of G protein. This leads to very selective effects and thus reduce possible side effects.
„The selectivity and potency of BnOCPA make it truly unique and we hope that with further research it will be possible to develop effective pain relievers to help patients manage chronic pain‘ summarizes the study author Dr. Mark Wall in a press release together.
study author Professor Bruno Frenguelli adds that the new research is a fantastic example of a stroke of luck in science. The team did not expect that BnOCPA would behave differently than other molecules in its class.
However, the researchers identified properties that they had never observed before, which open up new areas of the medicinal chemistry could open. BnOCPA not only has the potential to be a new pain reliever but it has also revealed a new method for studying other GPCRs, explains the co-author of the study Professor Graham Ladds. (as)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Sources:
- Emily Hill, Robert Huckstepp, Kerry Barkan, Giuseppe Deganutti, Michele Leuenberger, Barbara Preti, et al.: Selective activation of Gαob by an adenosine A1 receptor agonist elicits analgesia without cardiorespiratory depression; in: Nature Communications (veröffentlicht 18.07.2022), Nature Communications
- University of Warwick: Scientists develop a new non-opioid pain killer with fewer side effects (veröffentlicht 20.07.2022), University of Warwick
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.