Combating Drug Abuse by Targeting Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4)
Abstract
We continue to make excellent progress and the data to date are clearly supportive that TLR4 is an important drug abuse target. Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) continues to present as a powerful modulator of drug abuse as blocking . TLR4 with (+)naltrexone or (+) -- .naloxone suppresses multiple indices of drug reward and drug reinforcement for both opioids and cocaine. It is exciting that we are documenting the sites of action of TLR4 on drug abuse to the NAc shell and VTA, key structures in the rewarding and reinforcing effects of cocaine and opioids, the abused drugs under study. As (+) -- .naltrexone is in preclinical development aiming at human clinical trials, this is especially exciting to have a blood brain barrier permeable, highly selective TLR4 antagonist that would be orally available, stable at room temperature, and appropriate for use from front lines through long--.term use. As Xalud Therapeutics received $2.7 million from the Army to move (+) -- .naltrexone toward FDA Investigational New Drug status, it will be ready for entry into human clinical trials near term. Given our ongoing results, this would be a spectacular step forward for treating warfighters and veterans alike for drug abuse indications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA615825
Entities
People
- Betty Diamond
- Jonathan Katz
- Linda R. Watkins
- Ryan Bachtell
- Steven Maier
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder