Morphine

MIRA Pharmaceuticals reported that Mira-55, a proprietary non-psychotropic marijuana analog, delivered morphine-comparable pain relief in a validated inflammatory pain model without causing local inflammation or sedation.

• HSK21542, a novel kappa opioid receptor agonist, demonstrated statistically significant superiority over placebo in reducing postoperative pain intensity in two phase 3 trials involving 658 patients across 47 centers in China. • The drug showed non-inferiority to tramadol while exhibiting a markedly better safety profile, with significantly lower incidences of nausea (10.1% vs 41.9%) and vomiting (8.5% vs 38.0%) compared to tramadol. • Patients receiving HSK21542 required fewer rescue analgesics and reported higher satisfaction scores, with the drug maintaining efficacy for up to 24 hours post-administration. • The favorable safety profile included no respiratory depression events and reduced gastrointestinal side effects, positioning HSK21542 as a promising alternative to traditional opioid therapies.

Duke University researchers have developed SBI-810, an experimental non-opioid painkiller that targets specific receptors in the brain and spinal cord to provide pain relief without the addictive properties of opioids.

Scientists have developed the first wireless device capable of remotely activating photoactivable drugs, demonstrating effective pain management using photolabile morphine without typical opioid side effects.

U.S. life expectancy increased by 0.9 years to 78.4 years in 2023, marking the first rise since 2019, with significant improvements in both male and female longevity.