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Molecular Antagonist That May Be Effective Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Prevents Morphine-Seeking Behavior in Animals

This molecular antagonist has been shown to prevent morphine-seeking behavior in animals and may be an effective treatment for opioid addiction in humans . The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that opioid prescription misuse accounts for $78.5 billion in economic burden, and in 2019 alone, nearly 50,000 people died from opioid overdoses. , Medication-assisted treatment is effective in helping combat opioid addiction. However, only a handful of medications are available to treat opioid addiction, and more effective treatments are needed to help address the opioid crisis.

 

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a small complex molecule that may be an effective treatment for opioid addiction. This molecule is part of a larger chemical library that contains architecturally diverse molecules that may also be useful as anticancer, antibacterial, and antimalarial drug candidates.

 

 

Application

Small complex molecule that is an antagonist for the receptor associated with opioid addiction and may be an effective opioid addiction treatment

 

Advantages

  • Molecular antagonist has effectively prevented morphine-seeking behavior in mice, making this molecule a highly promising treatment for opioid addiction in humans
  • Entire chemical library is derived from the affordable and widely available indole alkaloid, Vincamine, facilitating relatively convenient and low-cost molecule production
  • Library has diverse structures derived from an indole alkaloid that is important in many biological functions, increasing the likelihood of identifying potential new drug candidates

Technology

Medication-assisted treatment is an effective method for combating opioid addiction, but only a few drugs are available for use. This molecular antagonist binds to the HCRTR2 receptor and may be an effective treatment for opioid addiction. This molecule is part of a larger library of chemical architectures derived from the indole alkaloid, Vincamine. Other molecules in the library may be anticancer, antibacterial, and antimalarial drug candidates.

Patent Information:
App Type: Patent No.: Patent Status:
ORD/UTIL 11,130,764 Issued