PS75 is an experimental

analgesic An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic (American English), analgaesic (British English), pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used to achieve relief from pain (that is, analgesia or pain management). It ...

drug which acts as a functionally selective alpha-2A adrenergic

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an antagonist blocks the action of the ago ...

, with a K_i of 8.2nM and an EC₅₀ of 4.8nM at the α_2A receptor. In animal studies it was found to produce analgesia but without the

sedation Sedation is the reduction of irritability or agitation by administration of sedative drugs, generally to facilitate a medical procedure or diagnostic procedure. Examples of drugs which can be used for sedation include isoflurane, diethyl ether, ...

typical of older drugs acting at this target such as

dexmedetomidine Dexmedetomidine, sold under the trade name Precedex among others, is a drug used in humans for sedation. Veterinarians use dexmedetomidine for similar purposes in treating cats, dogs, and horses. It is also used in humans to treat acute agitation ...

. While PS75 itself is unlikely to be developed for medical use, the successful separation of analgesia from sedative effects makes it likely that related compounds may be developed as non-sedating, nonopioid analgesic medications.

References

{{Adrenergic receptor modulators Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists Naphthalenes Secondary amines Chloroarenes 4-Pyridyl compounds