Duke University unveils SBI-810, an experimental non-opioid painkiller offering powerful pain relief without addiction risks, marking a significant breakthrough in pain management.
An experimental drug developed at Duke University School of Medicine could revolutionize pain management by delivering powerful relief without the addictive side effects of opioids.
The drug, known as SBI-810, represents a new class of compounds engineered to target specific nerve and spinal cord receptors. Unlike opioids which indiscriminately activate multiple cellular pathways leading to euphoria and addiction, SBI-810 precision-targets a single pain-relief pathway, sidestepping these common issues.
In a study published in Cell on May 19, Duke researchers reported that SBI-810 effectively alleviated pain on its own and enhanced the effectiveness of opioids at lower doses when used in combination, all while avoiding typical opioid side effects like constipation and tolerance buildup.
“What makes this compound exciting is that it is both analgesic and non-opioid,” senior author Ru-Rong Ji, Ph.D., a professor of anesthesiology and neurobiology at Duke and director of the Duke Anesthesiology Center for Translational Pain Medicine, said in a news release.
The drive for effective pain management alternatives couldn’t be more urgent. Despite declining drug overdose deaths, more than 80,000 Americans die each year, predominantly from opioids. Additionally, chronic pain impacts one-third of the U.S. population. Therefore, a safer alternative like SBI-810 could be pivotal for both acute and chronic pain sufferers.
SBI-810 functions by targeting the neurotensin receptor 1 in the brain and spinal cord. This receptor, when activated through a technique known as biased agonism, triggers the β-arrestin-2 signal specifically associated with pain relief, while avoiding other pathways that could lead to side effects and addiction.
“The receptor is expressed on sensory neurons and the brain and spinal cord,” Ji added. “It’s a promising target for treating acute and chronic pain.”
In preclinical trials involving mice, SBI-810 showed superior pain relief for conditions such as surgical incisions, bone fractures and nerve injuries. It also outperformed existing painkillers like opioids and gabapentin in certain scenarios, demonstrating greater effectiveness with fewer adverse effects.
The researchers highlighted that SBI-810, when compared to oliceridine, a newer opioid used in hospitals, performed better in some situations and showed fewer distress signs. Unlike opioids such as morphine, SBI-810 did not lead to tolerance after repeated use and avoided sedation or memory issues commonly associated with gabapentin.
The breakthrough underscores the compound’s dual action — on both peripheral and central nervous systems — suggesting it could provide balanced and potent pain relief while mitigating harm.
Duke University is fast-tracking SBI-810 toward human trials, backed by multiple patents and funding from the NIH and the Department of Defense. The collaborative effort included contributions from first authors Ran Guo and Ouyang Chen, among several others.