A new synthetic opioid, named DFNZ, developed by researchers may offer pain relief with a lower risk of addiction than morphine. A study in lab rats suggests DFNZ could potentially replace highly addictive painkillers like morphine or fentanyl.
While older nitazenes developed in the 1950s were potent but carried high overdose risks, this new patented compound appears to reduce the likelihood of overdose by not slowing breathing as sharply. Crucially, DFNZ did not trigger a significant surge of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to euphoria and addiction.
In experiments where rats could self-administer drugs, both DFNZ and morphine showed addictive potential. However, rats denied DFNZ exhibited less severe withdrawal symptoms and were quicker to abandon the self-administration lever compared to those denied morphine. This indicates a potentially weaker addictive profile for DFNZ.
Researchers also found that DFNZ helped temper the urge to use heroin in rats, suggesting it might have applications in treating opioid use disorder. However, extensive clinical trials are required to confirm its safety and efficacy before it could be considered for medical use, a process expected to take at least a decade.