Do you want pain relief similar to OxyContin – but without the devastating addiction problems? Well, a new drug called BU08028 may be able to provide that relief.
BU08028 is a new non-addictive opioid painkiller that has recently shown promise in early animal testing. Researchers have discovered that the drug provides pain relief similar to OxyContin and other opioids – but without the same potential for addiction or other serious side effects.
Obviously, this drug has the potential to have a major impact on modern medicine. Let’s take a look at 5 fast facts you need to know about BU08028.
BU08028 Early Research
BU08028 has been making headlines lately after it recently underwent trial testing in monkeys.
Researchers found that the new drug did not seem to slow breathing, nor did it disrupt the cardiovascular system or lead to addiction in monkeys. At the same time, it seemed to be “better at reducing pain than over-the-counter painkillers” said Mei-Chuan Ko, the study’s co-author and professor of physiology and pharmacology at Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC.
The study was funded by the US government. It was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in August 2016. You can view the full report here.
How Does BU08028 Work?
BU08028 is a chemical compound that’s similar to the opioid painkiller buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is sold under the brand names Butrans and Buprenex. It’s also sold under the brand name Subutex where it’s used to treat heroin addiction.
BU08028 is thought to work by triggering receptors that activate chemical pathways in the brain. One of the receptor systems activated by the drug actually “dampens” the troublesome side effects of other opioid painkillers.
Chemically speaking, BU08028 works as an orvinol analog and acts as an opioid analgesic.
BU08028 Pill In The Near Future
The researchers on this study claim that their plan is to develop BU08028 into a pill.
Ko praised the development of the drug and its future market potential, stating that “Based on our research, this compound has almost zero abuse potential and provides safe and effective pain relief.”
Ko added that it was a “breakthrough” and that it could translate into “new and safer, non-addictive pain medications” in the future.
Some Researchers Believe It’s Too Good to Be True
Nevertheless, other researchers outside the study were skeptical about the results – and whether or not BU08028 would actually make it to market. Dr. Caleb Alexander, an associate professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, said in an interview to HealthDay.com that,
“While the findings are of interest, animal studies are notoriously poor at predicting clinical outcomes in humans. Don't hold your breath waiting for the first addiction-free opioid. There is not a product coming down the pike anytime soon with such characteristics.”
Other independent researchers also cautioned that the drug may not work against all varieties of pain – which is one of the major benefits of existing opioid painkillers. The new drug could also be linked to a dangerous side effect called gastroparesis, a stomach condition that’s commonly seen in opioids.
So just because it’s non-addictive doesn’t mean that it will be totally safe to use.
In any case, study co-author Ko declined to estimate when (or if) human testing would begin. However, he said several other similar drugs are now in development, and he expects them to reach the next stage of research within a few years.
Monkey Studies Are Typically Accurate at Predicting the Effectiveness of Opioid Analgesics – So There’s Reason to Be Hopeful
Dr. Caleb Alexander claims animal studies are “notoriously poor” for predicting clinical outcomes in humans. However, there’s a reason monkeys are used on so many studies.
Non-human primates like rhesus monkeys have similar physiological responses to opioid analgesics like humans. That’s why they serve as a surrogate species for humans when researchers create new opioid drugs.
BU08028's Hopeful Future
It’s also important to note that researchers used a dose on monkeys that was 10 to 30 times higher than the dose needed to relieve pain – and the monkeys still did not exhibit side effects like respiratory failure or cardiac arrest, both of which are commonly caused by opioid abuse.
Ultimately, BU08028 has enormous potential. Researchers have demonstrated that it comes with no side effects or addictive properties in monkeys. The next step is to make sure it works to inhibit all types of pain in humans. If BU08028 can demonstrate that, then this non-addictive opioid painkiller could have enormous market potential.
