Committed to Pain Research
Neuronal Nicotinic ReceptorsLearn more about our work with neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNRs) |
Abbott's First Pain Care Products1888 – Abbott develops alkaloidal preparations (ergotoxine) for use in dental pain. This marks Abbott's official entrance into the pain care market.1923 – Abbott develops the synthetic drug Butyn, a local anesthetic, based on butyl alcohol. It marks Abbott's official entrance into the anesthesia market, and butyl alcohol becomes a keystone of Abbott's scientific research in sleep-inducing agents. 1930 – Nembutal, a sedative - hypnotic agent and one of Abbott's best-known and longest-lived products is introduced. 1936 – Abbott introduces Pentothal (thiopental sodium), a widely used induction anesthetic in the world for more than 50 years. Abbott enters the I.V. business by supplying hospitals with bulk intravenous solutions. This innovation will lead to the induction of two of our scientists into the U.S. Inventors Hall of Fame. |
For more than a century, Abbott has been committed to pain care. Today, Abbott scientists remain pioneers in the discovery and development of new therapies for pain care. Our scientists are pursuing new approaches to help manage both chronic and acute pain.
Neuronal Nicotinic Receptors (NNRs)
Abbott pioneered the
area of research focused on
neuronal nicotinic receptors (NNRs). Since the early 1990s, our scientists
have published more than 100 scientific articles on NNR research and have
discovered a number of compounds that we have studied for pain, as well as
cognitive disorders. Today, our researchers are developing a selective
nicotinic receptor agonist, which is currently in Phase
II clinical trials for pain.
Capsaicin and the Vanilloid Receptor
Abbott scientists are focused on a substance that occurs naturally in chili peppers. Capsaicin is a substance that causes a burning sensation in the mouth when eaten. When administered for a longer period of time, however, the burning sensation fades and pain relief can be obtained. Capsaicin is currently used in topical ointments. Repeated topical use of capsaicin overactivates the receptors that modulate it and may wind up eventually destroying the nerve fibers on which the receptor sits.
In the late 1990s, the TRPV1 (which is involved in the transmission and modulation of pain, as well as the integration of diverse painful stimuli), or vanilloid receptor, was identified as a receptor that mediates that burning sensation caused by capsaicin. Additional research has shown that TRPV1 plays an important role in mediating the body's response to a variety of pain stimuli, including heat, changes in pH levels and a variety of mediators of inflammation that are released in the body following tissue damage.
