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The Oxford Catalogue of Opioids: a systematic synthesis of opioid drug names and their pharmacology

Abstract:

AIM: The growing demand for analgesia, coupled with an increasing need to treat opioid dependence and overdose, has escalated the development of novel opioids. We aimed to quantify the number of opioid drugs developed and to catalogue them based on their pharmacology.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of seven sources in November 2020, including the WHO's Anatomical Therapeutic Classification index, the British National Formulary, the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology, the International Narcotics Control Board Index of Names of Narcotic Drugs, the WHO's International Nonproprietary Names MedNet service, Martindale's Extra Pharmacopoeia, and the Merck Index, to include opioid drugs that targeted or had an effect or coeffect at one or more opioid receptors. We extracted chemical and nonproprietary names, drug stems, molecular formulas, molecular weights, receptor targets, actions at opioid receptors, and classes based on their origins. We used descriptive statistics and calculated medians and interquartile ranges where appropriate.

RESULTS: We identified 233 opioid drugs and created an online resource (https://www.catalogueofopioids.net/). There were 10 unique drug stems, and "-fentanil" accounted for a quarter (26%) of all opioids. Most of the drugs (n=133) targeted mu-opioid receptors and the majority (n=191) were agonists at one or more receptors. Most (82%) were synthetic opioids, followed by semi-synthetic opioids (16%), and alkaloids (3%).

CONCLUSION: This catalogue will centralize and disseminate information that could assist researchers, prescribers, and the public to improve the safe use of opioids.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1111/bcp.14786

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Sub department:
Primary Care Health Sciences
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-0244-5620
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDM
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-4799-1644
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDM
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-1139-655X


Publisher:
Wiley
Journal:
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology More from this journal
Volume:
87
Issue:
10
Pages:
3790-3812
Publication date:
2021-03-20
Acceptance date:
2021-02-13
DOI:
EISSN:
1365-2125
ISSN:
0306-5251


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1163131
Local pid:
pubs:1163131
Deposit date:
2021-02-24

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