Public Radio for the Piedmont and High Country
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Duke Researchers Discover A New Class Of Pain Reliever

Researchers at Duke University have discovered a potential new class of pain relievers that could someday treat patients with a variety of conditions more effectively. What's more: the discovery came as a surprise.

The team was initially working with a special drug molecule to block something called an ion channel. Ion channels are kind of like on/off switches for transmitting pain signals.

The drug worked well at blocking the pain signals in that channel, called TRPV4. In fact, it was about ten times more effective than a previous iteration.

But when the researchers took a closer look, they were surprised to find that the same drug also blocked a second channel, TRPA1, making it what's called a “dual inhibitor,” and even more effective in certain types of pain relief.

Dr. Wolfgang Liedtke was the lead researcher in this discovery, and as a physician who specializes in treating pain, he's thrilled.

“This is the beginning of what seems to be a very interesting story and book, and we just published the first chapter,” he says.

A battery of additional testing and research – along with FDA approval – would need to take place before any version of this drug could be prescribed.

But the proof-of-concept experiments published in the June 1 edition of Scientific Reports suggests the team's discovery could lead to more effective medications for treating headaches, abdominal pain, and more.

Sean Bueter joined WFDD in August 2015 as a reporter covering issues across the Piedmont Triad and beyond.Previously, Sean was a reporter, host and news director at WBOI in Fort Wayne, Ind., just a few hours from where he grew up. He also sorted Steve Inskeep's mail as an intern at NPR in Washington, D.C.Sean has experience on a variety of beats, including race, wealth and poverty, economic development, and more. His work has appeared on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and APM's Marketplace.In his spare time, Sean plays tennis (reasonably well), golf (reasonably poorly), and scours local haunts for pinball machines to conquer.

Support quality journalism, like the story above,
with your gift right now.

Donate