Scientists have developed a new therapeutic approach to treat chronic abdominal pain without using opioids. Hope for the millions of people suffering from illnesses like irritable bowel syndrome.
- Researchers have developed oral therapeutic peptides to treat chronic abdominal pain, providing a safe, non-opioid alternative for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
- These peptides target oxytocin receptors in the gut, reducing pain signals without systemic side effects. Unlike injectable peptide drugs, they are stable and effective orally.
- This advance could revolutionize the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders if validated by clinical tests.
A team of researchers from the University of Vienna, Austria, has developed a new class of therapeutic peptides that can be administered orally to treat chronic abdominal pain. Featured in the magazine Angewandte Chemiethis innovation offers a safe, non-opioid alternative for conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which affect millions of people around the world.
A necessary alternative to opioids
Current treatments for chronic abdominal pain often rely on opioids, which are certainly effective but have serious side effects: addiction, drowsiness, nausea, constipation, etc. These medications act on the central nervous system, harming quality of life and fueling the crisis. world of opioids. There is therefore an urgent need to develop alternative treatments without the risk of dependence.
The new therapeutic approach developed by researchers targets oxytocin receptors in the intestine. Commonly called the “love hormone” for its role in social bonds, oxytocin also has lesser known effects on pain perception: by binding to these receptors, it reduces pain signals at the intestinal level. “The advantage is that this effect is specifically restricted to the intestine, which minimizes the risk of systemic side effects”can we read in a press release.
Tablets to take orally
The main challenge was the breakdown of oxytocin in the digestive system, rendering it ineffective orally. The team overcame this obstacle by developing oxytocin-like peptides that are stable in the intestine and capable of selectively activating oxytocin receptors. Unlike many peptide medications administered as injections (insulin, GLP1 analogs), these compounds can be taken orally, making treatment more convenient.
“Our results highlight the therapeutic potential of gut-specific peptides and offer a new, safe alternative to existing painkillers, particularly for those suffering from chronic intestinal disorders and abdominal pain,” assure the authors. Supported by the European Research Council (ERC), the team is continuing its efforts to clinically test these peptides, for which the patent has already been filed, and to transform this discovery into a therapeutic solution.
