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The technology of drug dependence blocking has been developed
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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The international team of scientists has succeeded in developing a technology for blocking drug dependence. This was made possible by the discovery in the human immune system of a key mechanism that determines man's addiction to opiate drugs.
The laboratory tests showed that the drug (+) - naloxone successfully blocks the reaction of the immune system to drugs, reducing the effect of dependence and reducing the pain known under the term "breaking". The results of these studies may lead to the development of new strong painkillers that are not addictive. But, the most important is that a new drug can help people with drug dependence get rid of this addiction.
"Our research has shown that the role of the formation of dependence is played by the immune and central nervous system of a person." By blocking the immune response in the human brain by medication, we managed to prevent the emergence of drug dependence, "says Dr. Mark Hutchinson from the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Adelaide .
The efforts of scientists have been concentrated on the effects on the immune receptor, known as Toll-Like receptor 4 (TLR4). "Opiate drugs such as morphine and heroin bind to TLR4 receptors in a similar way, causing a reaction very similar to the normal immune response to pathogens.The main problem is that the TLR4 receptor serves as an enhancer that increases the body's response to drugs, that brings to the emergence of dependence "- says Hutchinson.
"But the drug (+) - naloxone completely stops the dependence, it" disconnects "the need for repeated injections of opiates, which also changes the behavior of a person, determined by its dependence."
The researchers report that they will need some more time for additional research, and clinical trials of the new drug will begin in 18 months.