GR-89696 is a drug which acts as a highly selective κ-opioid

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 ...

. It has been studied in various animal species, and has been described as selective for the κ₂ subtype. Recent studies have suggested that GR-89696 and related κ₂-selective agonists may be useful for preventing the

itching Itch (also known as pruritus) is a sensation that causes the desire or reflex to scratch. Itch has resisted many attempts to be classified as any one type of sensory experience. Itch has many similarities to pain, and while both are unpleasan ...

which is a common side effect of conventional

opioid Opioids are substances that act on opioid receptors to produce morphine-like effects. Medically they are primarily used for pain relief, including anesthesia. Other medical uses include suppression of diarrhea, replacement therapy for opioid us ...

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 ...

drugs, without the additional side effects of non-selective kappa agonists. The structure bound to the

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 ...

has been reported.

References

Synthetic opioids Chlorobenzene derivatives Acetamides Piperazines 1-Pyrrolidinyl compounds Kappa-opioid receptor agonists {{analgesic-stub