Difelikefalin

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Lua error in Module:Infobox at line 314: malformed pattern (missing ']').

Difelikefalin (INN) (developmental code names CR845, FE-202845), also known as D-Phe-D-Phe-D-Leu-D-Lys-[γ-(4-N-piperidinyl)amino carboxylic acid] (as the acetate salt), is an analgesic opioid peptide[2] acting as a peripherally-specific, highly selective agonist of the κ-opioid receptor (KOR).[1][3][4][5] It is under development by Cara Therapeutics as an intravenous agent for the treatment of postoperative pain.[1][3][5] An oral formulation has also been developed.[5] Due to its peripheral selectivity, difelikefalin lacks the central side effects like sedation, dysphoria, and hallucinations of previous KOR-acting analgesics such as pentazocine and phenazocine.[1][3] In addition to use as an analgesic, difelikefalin is also being investigated for the treatment of pruritus (itching).[1][3][4] Difelikefalin has completed phase II clinical trials for postoperative pain and has demonstrated significant and "robust" clinical efficacy, along with being safe and well-tolerated.[3][5] It is also in phase II clinical trials for uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients.[4]

Difelikefalin acts as an analgesic by activating KORs on peripheral nerve terminals and KORs expressed by certain immune system cells.[1] Activation of KORs on peripheral nerve terminals results in the inhibition of ion channels responsible for afferent nerve activity, causing reduced transmission of pain signals, while activation of KORs expressed by immune system cells results in reduced release of proinflammatory, nerve-sensitizing mediators (e.g., prostaglandins).[1]

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.

Use <references />, or <references group="..." />

External links



<templatestyles src="Asbox/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Stub icon

This analgesic-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Difelikefalin&oldid=722359195"