DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL THERAPEUTICS FOR POSTSURGICAL PAIN

Acetaminophen and NSAIDs have been used routinely for treatment of pain and/or fever. This dual action is sometimes contraindicated. In many instances, pain needs to be controlled without masking symptomatic fever (e.g., during the postoperative period). These drugs can cause hepatotoxicity, particularly after ingestion of large doses or from chronic use (especially when liver function has been compromised), which can lead to death. We are exploring a series of new and proprietary derivatives of acetaminophen that have good pharmacological potency and little hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, or antipyretic effects. In preliminary studies, the initial compounds demonstrated high analgesic activity free from antipyretic activity and hepatotoxicity. In Phase I, we further characterized these initial compounds and several other analogs/derivatives and identified a lead candidate drug. We will further test and develop this drug in Phase II for treating postoperative pain and for other analgesic treatments where acetaminophen is contraindicated. We will also use a combination of in vitro and in vivo models to evaluate additional analogs and derivatives of the Phase I lead candidate drug. We will choose second-generation candidates based on efficacy, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity evaluations.