Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have made significant progress in finding a new approach to treat neuropathic pain, a type of pain caused by nerve damage in various body tissues. Neuropathic pain often leads to symptoms such as electric shocks, tingling, burning, or stabbing sensations. It is associated with conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, chemotherapy, injuries, and amputations, affecting millions of people globally.
The existing pain medications available for neuropathic pain are only moderately effective and may come with serious side effects and a risk of addiction. However, researchers from UT Austin, The University of Texas at Dallas, and the University of Miami have identified a molecule that shows promising results in reducing hypersensitivity in mice during trials. This molecule targets a protein involved in neuropathic pain.
The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that the newly discovered compound, named FEM-1689, does not interact with opioid receptors in the body. This characteristic makes it a potential alternative to current pain medications associated with addiction. Along with reducing sensitivity, the compound also helps regulate the integrated stress response (ISR), a cellular signaling network that facilitates the body’s response to injuries and diseases.
Stephen Martin, the June and J. Virgil Waggoner Regents Chair in Chemistry at UT Austin and co-corresponding author of the paper, states that the compound has proven to be an effective painkiller, demonstrating long-lasting effects. Testing the compound on different models, such as diabetic neuropathy and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, has shown its remarkable therapeutic effects.
The ultimate goal of the research team is to develop this compound into a drug that can effectively treat chronic pain without the risks associated with opioids. Neuropathic pain is a debilitating condition that can significantly impact patients’ lives, requiring a well-tolerated and efficient treatment. The team hopes that their findings will pave the way for the development of non-opioid pain therapeutics, providing relief to individuals suffering from chronic pain.
Theodore Price, a professor of neuroscience at UT Dallas and co-corresponding author of the paper, describes this work as a culmination of a fruitful five-year collaboration with colleagues at UT Austin. He believes that this research serves as a prime example of academic drug discovery pushing the field of non-opioid pain therapeutics forward.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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