New potent analgesics
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Karolinska Institutet - CCK |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 50 000 |
| Project duration | July 2015 - September 2015 |
| Status | Completed |
Important results from the project
The details of the project have been discussed by the two parties and a definite plan with timetable has been established. The project leader has visited the facility and discussed with the director the work plan. The host private sector has already standardised methods for using microRNAs for diagnosis of diseases and same strategy will be adopted to decipher the role of microRNAs in opioid tolerance development which is linked to addiction due to dose escalation. Therefore, the success of the project will help patients receiving opioids and provide a base for avoiding opioid addiction.
Expected long term effects
The new opioid hybrids have been proven as much more potent than the currently used opioids in terms of analgesia. The next step is prove it free from or at least with minimal side effects particularly tolerance development (which is linked to addiction). Therefore, our success in this step will furnish a base for new drug candidates to alleviate pain without the risk of addiction or the most serious respiratory depression.
Approach and implementation
The experimental work will be carried out on cells, animals and postmortem human brains (from Stockholm through the KI Donatum program). Screening of the potential tolerance markers (particularly microRNAs and matrix metalloproteinase) will be first carried out on cell culture and animals before analysing them in human postmortem brains. The markers proves positive in those models (especially postmortem brains) will be further investigated for antagonising drugs outcome (for instance anti-microRNAs). All the studies will be performed on both the regular and chimeric opioids.