DBPR116, a Prodrug of BPRMU191, in Combination with Naltrexone as a Safer Opioid Analgesic Than Morphine via Peripheral Administration

J Med Chem. 2024 Nov 14;67(21):19777-19790. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02107. Epub 2024 Oct 29.

Abstract

The development of opioid analgesics with reduced adverse effects is an unmet need. In a previous study, we discovered a unique combination of BPRMU191 and morphinan antagonists that produced potent antinociception with reduced adverse effects after central administration (intrathecal or intracerebroventricular). BPRMU191/naltrexone exhibits notable in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties. However, the poor blood-brain barrier penetrative ability of BPRMU191 restricts its clinical application. In this study, we utilized a prodrug strategy to deliver sufficient brain concentrations of BPRMU191 and selected compound 2 (DBPR116) with the best physicochemical and pharmacological properties among other in vivo active prodrugs. The in vivo pharmacological studies of compound 2/naltrexone, including thermally stimulated pain, cancer pain, constipation, sedation, psychological dependence, heart rate, and respiratory frequency measurements, demonstrated that it was a safer opioid analgesic than morphine in pain control.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid* / administration & dosage
  • Analgesics, Opioid* / adverse effects
  • Analgesics, Opioid* / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
  • Cancer Pain / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Morphinans / chemistry
  • Morphinans / pharmacokinetics
  • Morphinans / pharmacology
  • Morphinans / therapeutic use
  • Morphine* / administration & dosage
  • Morphine* / adverse effects
  • Morphine* / pharmacology
  • Naltrexone* / administration & dosage
  • Naltrexone* / analogs & derivatives
  • Naltrexone* / pharmacokinetics
  • Naltrexone* / pharmacology
  • Naltrexone* / therapeutic use
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Prodrugs* / chemistry
  • Prodrugs* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Prodrugs
  • Naltrexone
  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Morphine
  • Morphinans