Neuropathic pain is one of the hardest types of pain to alleviate – many of the available pain medications are only moderately effective and often come with serious side effects, as well as risk of addiction.
Now researchers at UT Austin, The University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Miami have identified a molecule that reduces hypersensitivity in trials in mice by binding to a protein they have shown is involved in neuropathic pain. The findings appear in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“We found it to be an effective painkiller, and the effects were rather long-lived,” said Stephen Martin, co-corresponding author of the paper at The University of Texas at Austin.
“When we tested it on different models, diabetic neuropathy and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, for example, we found this compound has an incredible beneficial effect.”
The new compound, dubbed FEM-1689, does not engage opioid receptors in the body, making it a possible alternative to existing pain medications linked to addiction.
In addition to reducing sensitivity, the compound can help regulate the integrated stress response (ISR), a network of cellular signaling that helps the body respond to injuries and diseases.
When well regulated, the ISR restores balance and promotes healing. When it goes awry, the ISR can contribute to diseases such as cancer, diabetes and metabolic disorders.
“It’s our goal to make this compound into a drug that can be used to treat chronic pain without the dangers of opioids,” Martin said.
“Neuropathic pain is often a debilitating condition that can affect people their entire lives, and we need a treatment that is well tolerated and effective.”
Source: University of Texas at Austin
