Experimental Duke Drug Shows Promise for Safer Pain Relief

A new drug developed at Duke University School of Medicine, SBI-810, may offer effective pain relief without the risks associated with opioids. SBI-810 is a non-opioid compound that targets a specific receptor on nerves and the spinal cord, activating only a pain-relief pathway and avoiding the euphoric effects that can lead to addiction. According to a study published in Cell, SBI-810 worked well in mice both on its own and in combination with opioids, making the latter effective at lower doses.

“What makes this compound exciting is that it is both analgesic and non-opioid,” said Ru-Rong Ji, senior study author. The drug also avoided common opioid side effects such as constipation and buildup of tolerance, which often requires patients to increase their dosage over time.

SBI-810 is still in early development, but Duke researchers are preparing for human trials and have secured multiple patents. The need for alternatives to opioids remains urgent, as over 80,000 Americans die annually from drug overdoses, most involving opioids, and chronic pain affects one-third of the U.S. population.

SBI-810 is designed to interact with the neurotensin receptor 1 in the brain and spinal cord, using a technique called biased agonism to activate a pain-relief signal while avoiding pathways that cause side effects or addiction. Ji noted, “The receptor is expressed on sensory neurons and the brain and spinal cord. It’s a promising target for treating acute and chronic pain.”

The team believes SBI-810’s targeted action on both the peripheral and central nervous systems could offer a safer, more balanced approach to pain management.