International Narcotics Research Conference-35th Meeting. Current developments in medicinal chemistry in the opioid field 17-24 July 2004, Kyoto, Japan.
Research in the opioid field underwent a lull in the 1990's but much new research has recently been stimulated, firstly by the cloning of all of the opioid receptors and then by the development of gene knockout mice and their phenotype characterization. These developments have led to a a reappraisal of the potential utility of opioid agonists and antagonists not only for the treatment of pain but also for mood-related conditions and peripheral indications. Medicinal chemistry groups are still moving the field forward, and the pharmaceutical industry continues to keep a watching brief. Opioids are no longer exclusively the province of pain scientists, and potential for treatment of limbic disorders, itch and addiction are only now beginning to be considered seriously.
Kitchen
Ian
I
University of Surrey, Department of Biological Sciences, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 5XH, UK. i.kitchen@surrey.ac.uk
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000639:trends; D015195:Drug Design; D004345:Drug Industry; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007564:Japan; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000819:agonists / Q000737:chemistry; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D011957:Receptors, Opioid