JTC-801 is an

opioid Opioids are a class of Drug, drugs that derive from, or mimic, natural substances found in the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy plant. Opioids work on opioid receptors in the brain and other organs to produce a variety of morphine-like effects, ...

analgesic An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic, antalgic, pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used for pain management. Analgesics are conceptually distinct from anesthetics, which temporarily reduce, and in s ...

drug used in scientific research. JTC-801 is a selective antagonist for the

nociceptin receptor The nociceptin opioid peptide receptor (NOP), also known as the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor or kappa-type 3 opioid receptor, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''OPRL1'' (opioid receptor-like 1) gene. The nociceptin recepto ...

, also known as the ORL-1 receptor. This was the fourth opioid receptor to be discovered and is still the least understood. The nociceptin receptor has complex effects which are involved in many processes involved in pain and inflammation responses, and activation of this receptor can either increase or reduce pain depending on dose. Drugs acting at the nociceptin receptor may influence the effects of traditional analgesics such as

NSAID Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are members of a therapeutic drug class which reduces pain, decreases inflammation, decreases fever, and prevents blood clots. Side effects depend on the specific drug, its dose and duration of ...

s, μ-opioid agonists, and

cannabinoids Cannabinoids () are several structural classes of compounds found primarily in the ''Cannabis'' plant or as synthetic compounds. The most notable cannabinoid is the phytocannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (delta-9-THC), the primary psychoa ...

. JTC-801 is an orally active drug that blocks the nociceptin receptor and produces analgesic effects in a variety of animal studies, and is particularly useful for

neuropathic pain Neuropathic pain is pain caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory nervous system. Neuropathic pain may be associated with abnormal sensations called dysesthesia or pain from normally non-painful stimuli (allodynia). It may have continuo ...

and

allodynia Allodynia is a condition in which pain is caused by a stimulus that does not normally elicit pain. For example, sunburn can cause temporary allodynia, so that usually painless stimuli, such as wearing clothing or running cold or warm water over ...

associated with nerve injury.

References

Synthetic opioids Quinolines Benzamides Aromatic amines Phenol ethers Nociceptin receptor antagonists {{analgesic-stub

See also

References