New prodrug developed for targeted, non-addictive pain relief

Adelaide, Australia:  A team of international researchers, including scientists from the University of Adelaide, has developed a new approach to targeted pain relief, building on a unique chemical reaction to create a prodrug that activates only at pain sites and is non-addictive, unlike many existing painkillers which cause dependency.

This breakthrough research, published in Nature Biotechnology, was led by Prof Andrew Abell from the University of Adelaide’s Department of Chemistry, with significant contributions from PhD candidates Thomas Avery and Dion Turner, as well as Associate Professor Peter Grace from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The prodrug, which remains inactive while circulating in the body, activates in the presence of reactive oxygen species—such as hydrogen peroxide—found in higher levels at pain sites.

This targeted activation allows for localized relief, minimizing side effects and maximizing effectiveness. Preclinical trials demonstrated that the prodrug effectively treats conditions such as sciatic nerve injuries, osteoarthritis, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic neuropathy.

“This is a major step forward,” said Dion Turner. “Chronic pain remains an unmet medical need, and non-addictive treatments like this could help revolutionize pain management, reducing reliance on opioids.”

The compound has shown potential for multi-day pain relief from a single dose without causing tolerance issues commonly associated with traditional painkillers like morphine.

Supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health HEAL Initiative, further preclinical trials are underway to evaluate safety and effectiveness.

To advance the prodrug toward human clinical trials, the team has founded a company, Immunologic. Immunologic’s CEO, Dr. Stephen Collins, emphasized the company’s mission to address oxidative stress and inflammation to treat pain—a novel approach in the field.