Will peripherally restricted kappa opioid receptor agonists (pKORAs) relieve pain with less opioid adverse effects and abuse potential?
Optimal utilization of opioid analgesics is significantly limited by the central nervous system adverse effects and misuse/abuse potential of currently available drugs. It has been postulated that opioid associated adverse effects and abuse potential would be greatly reduced if opioids could be excluded from reaching the brain. We review the basic science and clinical evidence of one such approach peripherally restricted kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists (pKORAs)
Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics