PS75 is an experimental

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 which acts as a

functionally selective Functional selectivity (or agonist trafficking, biased agonism, biased signaling, ligand bias, and differential engagement) is the ligand-dependent selectivity for certain signal transduction pathways relative to a reference ligand (often the end ...

alpha-2A (α_2A) adrenergic

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a Receptor (biochemistry), receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are Cell (biology), cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an R ...

, with a K_i of 8.2nM and an EC₅₀ of 4.8nM at the α_2A-adrenergic receptor. In animal studies it was found to produce analgesia but without the

sedation Sedation is the reduction of irritability or agitation by administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure or diagnostic procedure. Examples of drugs which can be used for sedation include isoflurane, diethyl ether, ...

typical of older drugs acting at this target such as

dexmedetomidine Dexmedetomidine, sold under the brand name Precedex among others, is a medication used for sedation. Veterinarians use dexmedetomidine for similar purposes in treating cats, dogs, and horses. It is also used in humans to treat acute agitation as ...

. While PS75 itself is unlikely to be developed for medical use, the successful separation of analgesia from sedative effects makes it likely that related compounds may be developed as non-sedating, non-

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 medications.

References

{{Adrenergic receptor modulators Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists Naphthalenes Secondary amines Chloroarenes 4-Pyridyl compounds