New Non-Opioid Painkiller Discovered Has The Potential To Limit Side Effects And Curb The Opioid Epidemic

peopleimages.com - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purpose only, not the actual person
peopleimages.com - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purpose only, not the actual person

According to the CDC, approximately twenty-four percent– or about fifty million Americans– suffer from chronic pain. Moreover, opioids are one of the most common treatments provided to chronic pain patients.

In fact, about twenty percent of patients who report chronic pain will receive a prescription for opioids.

Yet, while these drugs may provide pain relief, they have a high potential of being misused and leading to addiction.

And with so much knowledge regarding opioid risks and the painkiller epidemic, many patients have opted to deny the drugs for fear of adverse effects.

Thankfully, though, a new non-opioid painkiller has just been discovered and studied by researchers from the University of Warwick in the U.K.

The compound– known as benzyloxy-cylcopentyladenosine (BnOCPA)– is a selective analgesic.

“Analgesics” is an umbrella term that refers to painkillers. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these drugs come in all forms– some over the counter, others by prescription, and can be used in a variety of applications.

This specific compound, BnOCPA, does not contain opioids and was found to be non-addictive during the researcher’s test models. Moreover, it also has the potential to limit side effects since it is a selective analgesic.

Most drugs take effect via proteins on cell surfaces that activate molecules known as G proteins. The activation of many G proteins can lead to numerous cellular effects– or side effects.

peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purpose only, not the actual person

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Instead, BnOCPA is able to target and selectively activate only one kind of G protein, leading to reduced side effects and a better treatment experience for patients.

Dr. Mark Wall, the study’s lead researcher, described how this rare feature of BnOCPA has the potential to change patient care and pave the way for the development of other analgesic drugs.

“The selectivity and potency of BnOCPA makes it truly unique. We hope that with further research, it will be possible to generate potent painkillers to help patients cope with chronic pain,” Dr. Wall said.

Surprisingly, the researchers also stumbled upon this discovery unexpectedly. Professor Bruno Frenguelli, a lead investigator in the study, explained how BnOCPA’s characteristics were a positive surprise.

“This is a fantastic example of serendipity in science. We had no expectations that BnOCPA would behave differently from other molecules in its class. But, the more we looked into the drug, we discovered properties that had never been seen before,” Fenguelli recalled.

Now, the scientists are hopeful that their research will provide new avenues for medicinal chemistry in pain relief.

To read the study’s complete findings published in Nature Communications, visit the link here.

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Katharina Buczek graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Digital Arts. Specializing ... More about Katharina Buczek

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