Method for identification of low/non-addictive opioid analgesics and the use of said analgesics for treatment of opioid addiction
US5633259A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 27, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2500/10
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of using a bioassay consisting of an electrophysiological method and a cell culture system of dorsal-root ganglion (DRG) neurons to screen and identify opioids with a high potential for use as "low- or non-addictive" analgesics. Another aspect of the invention relates to a specific group of opioid alkaloids and analogues thereof identified by the bioassay of the invention for the unique ability to activate only inhibitory, but not excitatory, opioid receptor function, for use as low- or non-addictive analgesics. Another aspect of the invention relates to the specific use of etorphine or dihydroetorphine of the opioid alkaloid family as low- or non-addictive analgesics and for the treatment of opioid addiction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.