Description:
Unmet Need
The opioid epidemic continues to be a public health crisis, with about 130 Americans dying every day from an opioid overdose. Opiate-mediated respiratory suppression (ORS) is the primary cause of opiate-associated deaths, and obesity greatly increases opiate-related mortality. Obesity also contributes to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is found in more than 50% of obese individuals. Although we know that opiates exacerbate OSA, the mechanism of the pathogenesis is not fully understood. Although naloxone has shown effective and rapid reversal of respiratory depression induced by opioids, it has to a shorter half-life than most opiates, which may lead to recurrence of respiratory depression. In addition, naloxone reverses the anti-analgesic effects of opiates. Thus, effective nonopioids are urgently needed to add to the repertoire of drugs available for use in the treatment of ORS.
Technology Overview
Johns Hopkins and George Washington University researchers have discovered a new use of a certain natural compound to prevent morphine-induced OSA in diet induced obesity (DIO) mice through intranasal administration (IN). They have demonstrated the mechanism behind morphine-induced OSA, and have shown that IN administration of the compound partly prevented morphine-induced OSA in a previously published DIO mouse model. Their in vitro studies have also elucidated the mechanism behind the relationship between the compound and opiate-mediated OSA.
Stage of Development
The researchers have completed in vivo studies of the effect of the compound on opiate-mediated OSA using OSA mouse models.
