Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine and the Burke Neurological Institute have made an exciting discovery—a new drug that could help people living with chronic nerve pain.
This type of pain, known as neuropathic pain, is caused by damage to the nerves and is often very hard to treat. The best part?
This new drug isn’t an opioid and doesn’t come with the dangerous side effects that opioids often bring.
Chronic nerve pain affects millions of people worldwide and can feel like burning, tingling, or sharp stabbing sensations. Most treatments available today don’t work well for everyone and often cause unpleasant side effects.
Medications like gabapentin and duloxetine are commonly used but aren’t always effective. Opioids are another option, but they carry serious risks such as addiction and overdose.
The researchers took a completely new approach. They discovered that the nerve pain was linked to too much activity in proteins called HCN ion channels. These proteins are found on nerve cells and play a role in sending signals. However, HCN channels are also found in the brain and heart, so targeting them can be risky if the drug spreads to those areas.
To solve this problem, Dr. Gareth Tibbs created a new drug called BP4L-18:1:1. He based the drug on a common anesthetic called propofol, but added a chemical “anchor” to it. This anchor acts like a boat anchor—it helps keep the drug in the area it’s needed and stops it from drifting into parts of the body where it could cause problems.
Once in place, the drug enters the nerve cells and calms the overactive HCN channels, reducing the pain. The researchers tested this new drug on rats and found that it worked well. Even better, it didn’t cause any harmful side effects. The drug was effective when taken by mouth, which means it could one day be available as a pill.
Dr. Steven Fox, founder of the company Akelos that is helping to develop the drug, said this discovery could change the way we treat nerve pain. “It targets the root cause of pain without causing harmful side effects,” he said. “This study shows that the drug works and represents a new direction in pain medicine.”
The research was supported by the Daedalus Fund for Innovation, which helps turn new scientific discoveries into real-world products. If further testing goes well, the team hopes to start clinical trials with human patients.
For people who suffer from chronic nerve pain, this drug could be a game-changer. It offers the hope of relief without the dangers of addiction or other common side effects. As research continues, scientists believe this drug could make a big difference in how we manage pain and improve the lives of people around the world.
If you care about pain, please read studies about Scientists find a new way to manage knee pain and findings of Promising new drug offers hope for chronic nerve pain relief.
For more about pain, please read studies about Chronic morphine use for cancer pain may increase bone loss and findings of Scientists find a new hope for chronic pain.
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