Scientists Test Non-Addictive Painkiller More Powerful Than Morphine
A new experimental chemical compound is more powerful than morphine for pain relief, but it doesn’t produce the dangerous side effects. Most importantly, it’s not addictive. Known as AT–121, it was developed by scientists in the U.S. and has only been tested on animals so far.
Related: Addiction Vaccines Are Making a Comeback. Would You Get One?
“This compound also was effective at blocking abuse potential of prescription opioids, much like buprenorphine does for heroin, so we hope it could be used to treat pain and opioid abuse.” Mei-Chuan Ko, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre
The findings were reported in Science Translational Medicine.