Safer non-opioid medicines for nerve pain from chemotherapy
Official title: Flupirtine Analogue Synthesis and Screening for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11267965 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Testing new versions of the pain drug flupirtine to help people with chemotherapy-related nerve pain while lowering the risk of liver damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $215,284 |
| NIH project number | 5R21CA298918-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11267965 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have nerve pain caused by chemotherapy (chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain) and who find current pain medicines inadequate could be eventual candidates for related clinical trials.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose pain is not related to chemotherapy or who already have severe liver disease may not benefit from these specific drug candidates.
What this research studies
Researchers are creating and screening new flupirtine-like compounds that aim to keep pain relief but avoid the liver toxicity that limited the original drug. They have already found one compound that worked in mouse models and was metabolized faster with no liver injury after injection. The team will synthesize additional analogues and test them in laboratory and mouse models of short- and long-term chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, measuring pain behaviors and liver safety. Successful candidates would be prioritized for further development toward human testing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a non-opioid treatment that reduces chemotherapy-related nerve pain with lower risk of liver injury.
How similar studies have gone: The original drug flupirtine relieved pain in clinical use but was withdrawn due to rare severe liver toxicity, and this analogue approach is relatively new with promising results so far in mice but not yet tested in people.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Duan, Bin — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Duan, Bin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
CBD-based formulation to relieve chemotherapy-induced nerve pain
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Developing safer pain relief options for cancer patients experiencing neuropathic pain from chemotherapy
This study is looking for safer pain relief options for cancer patients dealing with nerve pain from chemotherapy by creating new versions of an old medication, flupirtine, that was taken off the market due to safety issues.
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Identifying biomarkers for neuropathic pain caused by chemotherapy
This study is looking at how certain biological markers in your body can help doctors figure out if you might experience nerve pain from chemotherapy before you start treatment, so they can tailor your care to reduce pain and improve your overall experience.
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New treatment for pain caused by chemotherapy
This study is testing a new treatment called RFT1081 to help cancer patients who are dealing with painful nerve issues caused by chemotherapy, aiming to ease their pain without the usual side effects of pain meds.
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Photodynamic lipids to boost chemotherapy for metastatic ovarian cancer
A patient-friendly approach tests a light-activated method to make ovarian cancer metastases more sensitive to chemotherapy.
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Peripheral nerve stimulation for chronic neuropathic pain in a new mechanistic trial
A study at Stanford tests whether a painless-sounding electrical nerve treatment helps people with long-standing neuropathic pain when added to standard care.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.