Norikazu Kiguchi1, Huiping Ding2, Gerta Cami-Kobeci3, Devki D Sukhtankar2, Paul W Czoty2, Heather B DeLoid4, Fang-Chi Hsu5, Lawrence Toll6, Stephen M Husbands7, Mei-Chuan Ko8. 1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan. 2. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 3. Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, UK. 4. Preclinical Translational Services, Wake Forest Innovations, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 5. Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 6. Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA. 7. Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, UK. Electronic address: s.m.husbands@bath.ac.uk. 8. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; W.G. Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salisbury, NC, USA. Electronic address: mko@wakehealth.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The marked increase in mis-use of prescription opioids has greatly affected our society. One potential solution is to develop improved analgesics which have agonist action at both mu opioid peptide (MOP) and nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors. BU10038 is a recently identified bifunctional MOP/NOP partial agonist. The aim of this study was to determine the functional profile of systemic or spinal delivery of BU10038 in primates after acute and chronic administration. METHODS: A series of behavioural and physiological assays have been established specifically to reflect the therapeutic (analgesia) and side-effects (abuse potential, respiratory depression, itch, physical dependence, and tolerance) of opioid analgesics in rhesus monkeys. RESULTS: After systemic administration, BU10038 (0.001-0.01 mg kg-1) dose-dependently produced long-lasting antinociceptive and antihypersensitive effects. Unlike the MOP agonist oxycodone, BU10038 lacked reinforcing effects (i.e. little or no abuse liability), and BU10038 did not compromise the physiological functions of primates including respiration, cardiovascular activities, and body temperature at antinociceptive doses and a 10-30-fold higher dose (0.01-0.1 mg kg-1). After intrathecal administration, BU10038 (3 μg) exerted morphine-comparable antinociception and antihypersensitivity without itch scratching responses. Unlike morphine, BU10038 did not cause the development of physical dependence and tolerance after repeated and chronic administration. CONCLUSIONS: These in vivo findings demonstrate the translational potential of bifunctional MOP/NOP receptor agonists such as BU10038 as a safe, non-addictive analgesic with fewer side-effects in primates. This study strongly supports that bifunctional MOP/NOP agonists may provide improved analgesics and an alternative solution for the ongoing prescription opioid crisis.
BACKGROUND: The marked increase in mis-use of prescription opioids has greatly affected our society. One potential solution is to develop improved analgesics which have agonist action at both mu opioid peptide (MOP) and nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide (NOP) receptors. BU10038 is a recently identified bifunctional MOP/NOP partial agonist. The aim of this study was to determine the functional profile of systemic or spinal delivery of BU10038 in primates after acute and chronic administration. METHODS: A series of behavioural and physiological assays have been established specifically to reflect the therapeutic (analgesia) and side-effects (abuse potential, respiratory depression, itch, physical dependence, and tolerance) of opioid analgesics in rhesus monkeys. RESULTS: After systemic administration, BU10038 (0.001-0.01 mg kg-1) dose-dependently produced long-lasting antinociceptive and antihypersensitive effects. Unlike the MOP agonist oxycodone, BU10038 lacked reinforcing effects (i.e. little or no abuse liability), and BU10038 did not compromise the physiological functions of primates including respiration, cardiovascular activities, and body temperature at antinociceptive doses and a 10-30-fold higher dose (0.01-0.1 mg kg-1). After intrathecal administration, BU10038 (3 μg) exerted morphine-comparable antinociception and antihypersensitivity without itch scratching responses. Unlike morphine, BU10038 did not cause the development of physical dependence and tolerance after repeated and chronic administration. CONCLUSIONS: These in vivo findings demonstrate the translational potential of bifunctional MOP/NOP receptor agonists such as BU10038 as a safe, non-addictive analgesic with fewer side-effects in primates. This study strongly supports that bifunctional MOP/NOP agonists may provide improved analgesics and an alternative solution for the ongoing prescription opioid crisis.
Authors: Lisa R Gerak; David R Maguire; Gerta Cami-Kobeci; Keith M Olson; John R Traynor; Stephen M Husbands; Charles P France; Lisette Acevedo; Barbara Belli; Peter Flynn Journal: Behav Pharmacol Date: 2022-08-03 Impact factor: 2.277