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Featured Papers

Alkoxy chain length governs the potency of 2-benzylbenzimidazole ‘nitazene’ opioids associated with human overdose

Featured Paper of the Month – February 2024
Published in Psychopharmacology by Grant Glatfelter and Michael Baumann et al. of the NIDA IRP Designer Drug Research Unit.

Our findings reveal that nitazenes are potent mu-opioid receptor agonists that induce opioid-like effects in mice. Importantly, we show that certain analogs (e.g., isotonitazene, etonitazene) are much more potent than fentanyl, portending serious risk of overdose and other adverse effects in humans who are exposed to the drugs.

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