Morphine alternative safer, non-addictive
A new painkiller is as effective as morphine but with fewer side effects and isn’t likely to be addcitive.
Researchers from the Tulane University and Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System developed the painkiller using the neurochemical endomorphine. The chemical is naturally found in the body.
Using rats, scientists compared several engineered variants of the neurochemical endomorphin, which is found naturally in the body, to morphine to measure their effectiveness and side effects. The peptide-based drugs target the same pain-relieving opioid receptor as morphine.
“These side effects were absent or reduced with the new drug,” said lead investigator James Zadina, VA senior research career scientist and professor of medicine, pharmacology and neuroscience at Tulane University School of Medicine. “It’s unprecedented for a peptide to deliver such powerful pain relief with so few side effects.”
Researchers hope to begin human clinical trials of the new drug within the next two years.