A potent killer drug that resists treatment from naloxone has been causing challenges for first responders in their efforts to save overdose victims. The influx of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid much stronger than heroin, has made it difficult for naloxone to effectively reverse its deadly effects. However, researchers have recently discovered a new compound, named compound 368, that can enhance the life-saving power of naloxone and overcome its limitations, as reported in a study published in Nature.
Naloxone works by rapidly reversing an opioid overdose when administered, as it replaces the opioids in the opioid receptors. Compound 368 is able to increase the binding of naloxone to the receptors, allowing it to turn the receptor off more completely. When combined with naloxone, compound 368 effectively blocks opioids like fentanyl and morphine from binding to the receptors.
Compound 368 is ineffective on its own and only works when administered with naloxone. In tests with mice given morphine, researchers found that compound 368 alone did not affect the mice’s response to pain. However, when combined with naloxone, compound 368 was able to reverse respiratory depression, a common cause of death in overdose victims.
The researchers emphasized the importance of having multiple tools to combat the fentanyl overdose epidemic, with compound 368 showing promise in enhancing the effectiveness of naloxone. With no observed side effects in mice, compound 368 could be a valuable addition to the toolkit of first responders in saving lives from opioid overdoses.
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