Challenges in Analgesic Drug Development

As many as 50 million people in the United States suffer from chronic pain. 1 Our most effective analgesics—including opioids, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants—are based on mechanisms of action that have been recognized for some time, and in many cases, they provide only 50% pain relief to about 30% of patients. 2 Consequently, there is a need for more effective analgesics.

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