A derivative of opium, morphine has been used for various medical purposes since ancient times and is a substance that’s issued with caution due to its very potent and addictive properties. For years scientists have been battling on trying to find a replacement that is not as addictive or does not cause respiratory arrest with increased doses, and now, scientists at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center may have just found the answer.
A new pain-killing compound, BU08028, has been discovered by the team that is non-addictive and shows no signs of producing any harmful side effects like other opioids available. Professor of physiology and pharmacology at Wake Forest Baptist and lead author of the study, Mei-Chuan Ko, Ph.D states, “This is a breakthrough for opioid medicinal chemistry that we hope in the future will translate into new and safer, non-addictive pain medications.” Despite their addictiveness and their links to respiratory arrest, mu opioid peptide (MOP) receptor agonists are still the most widely used drugs prescribed for pain relief.
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During the study, 12 primates were used to test a combination of classical (MOP) and non-classical (NOP) opioid receptors. Behavioural, physiological, and pharmalogical factors were examined and the results of the study proved that BU08028 was successful in blocking pain without the onset of any adverse side effects such as respiratory depression, itching, or cardiovascular problems. They also discovered that the effects were long-lasting (sometimes providing up to 30 hours of pain relief) and there were no signs of physical dependence.
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