Medical News: New Compound Potentially an Opioid Alternative

[JamieMarc]

I came across an article this morning that was fascinating and wanted to share. Search for "Compound mimics cannabis for pain relief without the side effects: Mouse study points to effective opioid alternative" to find the article. It also has a link to redirect to an article in Nature where the study was published. I'm sure any similar search will bring up many results as this sounds pretty groundbreaking.

Bottom line, quoting from the article: "The custom-designed compound we created attaches to pain-reducing receptors in the body but, by design, it can't reach the brain. This means the compound avoids psychoactive side effects such as mood changes and isn't addictive because it doesn't act on the brain's reward center."

I do take an opioid and my doctor has suggested cannabis use in addition. However, I cannot tolerate the psychoactive side effects so I gave up on that. So this is relevant for me.

Exciting news, especially for those who refuse to take opioids, cannot tolerate them or cannot take them due to addiction issues! I'm looking forward to see how this develops over the coming months or years.

Hugs to all!

 

[sunkacola]

@JamieMarc thanks for this information! I will be very interested to hear if this becomes available for people to try. Was there any indication in what you read as to whether this is going to be an OTC or a prescription medication?

 

[JamieMarc]

@sunkacola No mention about that as I recall. What an excellent question you pose though. And if it is a prescription, how long will it take for insurance company's to cover it? Lots of questions. It's still too early to say. But, I think that after more studies are done they will work on developing a medication. This particular researcher has been working on this for at least 15 years if I recall. But yeah, it's super interesting and exciting!

Once I read the study publication, perhaps I will be able to share additional information. I've made a note to read it as soon as possible.

 

[kcc73]

Thanks will sharing. I will be researching this. Wonder how far they have gone with medical trials.

 

[JamieMarc]

I searched and found the study published in Nature. Unfortunately, payment is required to access the full study text. Therefore, I was unable to get any additional information. However, any questions regarding medical trials would not likely be listed in the study publication anyway.

I have put this on my list of things to continue watching out for. For any updates on this promising new drug. Apparently, it also has the potential to design drugs for other conditions as well. It's all very technical but it truly sounds like a completely new approach and new discovery. For me, I think it is definitely worth my time to regularly search for updates on this compound.

As I do, I will post any updates here.

Hugs to everyone!

 

[SBee]

Something I will keep my eyes on, see if anything picks up on this on any UK medical research sites as well. Sounds promising I had nasty effects from smoking cannabis years ago, so taking out the components that usually reach the brain is sounding good in early developments.

 

[JamieMarc]

Thank you @SBee we will both be on the case LOL

 

[SBee]

Sounds like we can set up a transatlantic detective agency @JamieMarc and we'd be on far better terms than some of the recent political situations... And there goes my promise not to mention politics.. Sorry.

But honestly this does sound potentially and interesting research. Again, you may wonder if your medical insurances will cover it, and here its if the NHS will approve and prescribe. Be a fair while until its even ready to get to that stage of course. But a ray of optimism.

 

[mikepahr]

Something like this would be great…. I have been on pain meds for 13 yrs… i am near my max amount daily… and most days i level off at a 3 pain wise… a heavily medicated 3 that is… i have no idea what my real levels are anymore as i have been on Hydrocodone for 13 yrs, and morphine for 4…. Add in pregabapatin (i used to take 3200mg of Gabapatin a day, but the pregab helps more with the Fibro.). Cymbalta, muscle relaxors, not to mention my Migraine meds…. I worry at some point they will pull me off the pain meds without 1. A proper detox, and 2 a replacement solution…. Do i want to stay on these meds … absolutely not! I should not have let them take me this route to begin with, but too late now. Or figure out how to surgically fix me …. But i hear more people,after back surgery have more problems then before…. So i will have to see where all this leads.

 

[JamieMarc]

Since I first posted this, I am closely following developments:

First of all, the credit goes to researchers at Washington University in St. Louis and Stanford University and the compound has been called VIP36.

Please note the last line below: The team plans to develop the compound further into an oral drug that could be evaluated in clinical trials. So, that's where we're at. They are currently working to develop an oral drug for evaluation. That's the only update I have at this time.

"But, in the new study, the modified compound offered prolonged pain relief.

The mice showed no signs of developing tolerance despite twice-daily treatments with the compound over the course of nine days.

The research team described it as a "promising" sign that the molecule could be used as a non-addictive drug for relief of chronic pain, which requires continued treatment over time.

They say that eliminating the compound’s tolerance resulted from the "bespoke" design of the compound.

The Stanford researchers performed sophisticated computational modeling that revealed a hidden pocket on the CB1 receptor that could serve as an additional binding site.

The team explained that the hidden pocket, confirmed by structural models, leads to reduced cellular activity related to developing tolerance compared to the conventional binding site, but it had been considered inaccessible to cannabinoids.

The researchers found that the pocket opens for short periods of time, allowing the modified cannabinoid compound to bind, minimizing tolerance.

The team plans to develop the compound further into an oral drug that could be evaluated in clinical trials."

 

[sunkacola]

@JamieMarc thank you so much for going to the trouble of following this and giving us updates on what you find out. I am especially grateful for this because lately I find myself too fatigued or too spacey or too ...something...I don't know what it is...to be able to concentrate on much of anything at all, and so I wouldn't be looking into this on my own, but I appreciate reading what you have found out!

 

[SBee]

@sunkacola I am sorry you are having a particularly difficult time, especially as you cannot quite work out what is going on, sometimes I feel having a name or identifiable reason can help us figure out a bit better how to help ourselves. I wish you well, take care.

 

[JamieMarc]

@sunkacola My pleasure. This could be a game-changer for us and all FM sufferers, so I'm following this closely on a weekly basis. Maybe every other week since as we all know these things move sooooooo slow. Hoping this will get adequate funding and expedited approvals. After all, with all the news about opioid addiction you'd think it would since it could be a safer, non-addictive alternative to opioids. I'm on it!

 

[Honeybea]

Hi Jamie,
So sorry about that my arm slipped. I'm still working, I have to finish a bracelet for a little girl.
I've never been able to get fibro relief from opioid. I take Lyrica but I applaud anyone with fibro pain with a new medicine other than opiates.

 

[JamieMarc]

@Honeybea

Just goes to show how different we all are. Whereas pregabalin is effective for you, it was completely ineffective for me.

Hugs!