Asimadoline (EMD-61753) is an experimental drug which acts as a peripherally selective
κ-opioid receptor
The κ-opioid receptor or kappa opioid receptor, abbreviated KOR or KOP, is a G protein-coupled receptor that in humans is encoded by the ''OPRK1'' gene. The KOR is coupled to the G protein Gi/G0 and is one of four related receptors that bind op ...
(KOR)
agonist.
Because of its low penetration across the
blood–brain barrier, asimadoline lacks the
psychotomimetic A drug with psychotomimetic (also known as psychotogenic) actions mimics the symptoms of psychosis, including delusions and/or delirium, as opposed to only hallucinations. Psychotomimesis is the onset of psychotic symptoms following the administrati ...
effects of centrally acting KOR agonists, and consequently was thought to have potential for medical use. It has been studied as a possible treatment for
irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a "disorder of gut-brain interaction" characterized by a group of symptoms that commonly include abdominal pain and or abdominal bloating and changes in the consistency of bowel movements. These symptoms may ...
, with reasonable efficacy seen in
clinical trial
Clinical trials are prospective biomedical or behavioral research studies on human participants designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions, including new treatments (such as novel vaccines, drugs, diet ...
s,
but it has never been approved or marketed.
See also
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Eluxadoline
Eluxadoline, sold under the brand names Viberzi and Truberzi, is a medication taken by mouth for the treatment of diarrhea and abdominal pain in individuals with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). It was approved for use in t ...
*
Fedotozine
*
Nalfurafine
Nalfurafine (International Nonproprietary Name, INN, United States Adopted Name, USAN) (brand name Remitch; former developmental code names TRK-820, AC-820, MT-9938) is an antipruritic (anti-itch drug) that is marketed in Japan for the treatment ...
*
Trimebutine
References
{{Opioidergics
Synthetic opioids
Kappa-opioid receptor agonists
Pyrrolidines
Acetamides
Peripherally selective drugs
Abandoned drugs