MEBIAS Discovery Receives Grant from NIDA to Advance Its Signaling-Pathway Selective Mu-Opioid Receptor Drug Candidate

MEBIAS Discovery, an emerging leader in the field of drug discovery targeting G-protein coupled receptors, has secured grant funding from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) to progress a mu-opioid receptor candidate. Preclinical data presented last year at the Academic Drug Discovery Consortium revealed that its G-protein agonists lack the dangerous side effects of respiratory depression and abuse potential associated with all currently marketed opioids. MEBIAS Discovery will use the NIDA funds to complete preclinical pharmacological and pharmaceutical profiling. A portion of the activities will continue to be supported by BioAdvance. Once milestones outlined in the grant are met, MEBIAS is eligible for continued funding from NIDA to progress the lead compound into Phase 1 clinical studies.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the NIH, over two million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids and over 19,000 died of overdoses from prescription opioid pain medications. Respiratory depression is the leading cause of death associated with opioids.

“Given the overwhelming societal need for new pain drugs, we are excited to advance our lead candidate towards IND filing and human clinical Phase 1 studies,” said Lawrence Kuo, Ph.D., one of the founding partners of MEBIAS Discovery. “These compounds could redefine the risk-benefit paradigm of opioids and thereby lessen the opioid crisis our nation is facing.”

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