PAIN KILLER: OPIOID ALTERNATIVE

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 PAIN KILLER: OPIOID ALTERNATIVE




Researchers at Duke University have developed a painkiller that could shake up how we treat pain, without the dangers tied to opioids. The experimental drug, known as SBI-810, takes a more precise route than traditional pain meds. Instead of blitzing the nervous system like opioids, SBI-810 targets a specific neurotensin receptor 1 (NTSR1) receptor found on sensory nerves and the spinal cord.

Here’s why that’s exciting: In mouse studies, SBI-810 delivered intense pain relief after surgery, bone fractures, and nerve injuries. It did the job without making the mice sleepy or causing constipation, two classic opioid problems.

Opioids, for all their power, come with a hefty price: addiction, tolerance, and a risk of deadly overdose. SBI-810 avoids the euphoric “high” that makes opioids so addictive by activating only the pain-relief side of the receptor. Even more interesting, pairing SBI-810 with opioids allowed for lower opioid doses, making the combination more effective and potentially safer.

Dr. Ru-Rong Ji, the senior researcher on the team, says what’s unique about SBI-810 is that it’s a true painkiller, without being an opioid. So far, it hasn’t caused tolerance with repeated use, unlike morphine, and it worked better than gabapentin (a common nerve pain drug) without the sedation or memory issues gabapentin can bring.

SBI-810’s action is brilliant: it uses a technique called “biased agonism” to turn on a particular signal (β-arrestin-2) that quiets pain, while skipping the signals that trigger side effects or addiction.

The urgent need for safer pain relief is evident. While overdose deaths from opioids are trending down, they still claim over 80,000 lives a year in the U.S. Chronic pain, meanwhile, affects about a third of the country.

SBI-810 is still in development, but Duke’s team has secured multiple patents and is eyeing human trials soon. If all goes well, the drug could offer a new way forward for people recovering from surgery or living with persistent nerve pain—potent pain relief, minus the opioid baggage.

The study, published in Cell and supported by the NIH and Department of Defense, included a large team of Duke researchers. Their findings suggest that SBI-810’s targeted approach—working both in the body and the brain—could finally tip the balance in pain medicine: strong enough to matter but specific enough to avoid harm.

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