Opioid receptor analogs are medications that act on the opioid receptors in the central and peripheral nervous system, either diminishing or augmenting the effect of opioids. Opioids are a broad category of drugs that are used as pain-relieving medications. There are three types of opioid receptors – Mu, Delta, and Kappa. All three of them have their roles to play in the body, like pain relief, respiratory depression, constipation, dysphoria, euphoria suppression of cough reflex, and others. Delta Opioid receptor antagonists treat drug overdose and cure drug de-addiction, while opioid agonists can provide relief of inflammatory pain, nociception, and malignant bone pain. The three receptors have different roles to play and are activated by different analogs. Delta Opioid receptors are 7-transmembrane inhibitory G-protein-coupled receptors that are expressed in the presynaptic neurons. Companies are trying to find new and novel molecules to prevent and cure these diseases. The development and launch of newer products by the market players will significantly enhance the revenue of the Delta Opioid Antagonists market over the forecast years. For instance, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China, in 2020, out of 280 million people in the USA above the age of 12, 31.9% of people were drug users, with 19.4% of people who have either consumed illicit drugs or misused prescription drugs. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between April 2020 and April 2021, 75,000 Americans died from opium overuse.
Several of these inhibitors are on the market, while many are in ongoing clinical trials. 20 companies in their pipelines have 21 Delta Opioid Receptor Antagonists in various stages of clinical trials. 7 products in Phase 4, 8 products are in Phase 3, 2 products are in Phase 2, and 3 products are in Phase 1 of the clinical trials, while 14 companies in their pipelines have 10 Delta Opioid Receptor Agonists in various stages of clinical trials like 2 products in Phase 4, 3 products in Phase 3, 4 products in Phase 2 and 1 product in Phase 1.
Key Developments of Delta Opioid Analogues
Approved molecules of Delta Opioid Receptor Antagonists
Delta Opioid Receptor Antagonists in Pipeline
Approved molecules of Delta Opioid Receptor Agonists
Delta Opioid Receptor Agonists in Pipeline
Clinical Activity and Developments of Delta Opioid Analogues
As of June 2023, 20 companies have approximately 21 Delta Opioid Receptor Antagonists for 76 diseases. For these diseases, more than 60 trials are being conducted by players globally.
Molecule name |
Number of studies |
Sublocade (buprenorphine once-monthly depot) |
30 |
Belbuca (buprenorphine BEMA) |
16 |
Zubsolv (buprenorphine-naloxone sublingual tablet) |
10 |
Viberzi (eluxadoline) |
9 |
Selincro (nalmefene oral) |
15 |
As of June 2023, 14 companies have approximately 10 Delta Opioid Receptor Agonists for 210 diseases. For these diseases, more than 14 trials are being conducted by players globally. For instance,
Molecule name |
Number of studies |
OxiFast (oxycodone immediate release) |
27 |
Brixadi once-weekly depot (buprenorphine once-weekly depot) |
10 |
Brixadi once-monthly depot (buprenorphine once-monthly depot) |
9 |
sustained-release oxycodone transdermal patch (TPM oxycodone patch) |
7 |
ADL5747 |
6 |
Drugs like Belbuca (buprenorphine BEMA) and Selincro are used to treat round-the-clock pain and treat patients with alcohol dependence who have a high drinking risk level respectively. Delta opioid antagonists are used to mitigate severe pain, as drug and alcohol dependence therapy, opioid-related disorders, compulsive behavior, digestive system disorders and others. There has been increasing use of delta opioid receptor antagonists as drugs to treat patients with alcohol dependence and around the globe.
Drugs like OxiFast (Oxycodone immediate release) and Brixadi (buprenorphine) are used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain and treat severe pain and opioid dependence respectively. Other indications of Delta Opioid Agonists are reducing cough stimulus, analgesia, reduce anxiety and depression and others. These are being largely used for various indications and are being tried for new ones. There is a great opportunity for the companies to launch their new products and innovations in the market
Antagonists like Selincro (nalmefene oral), Buprenex (buprenorphine), Viberzi (eluxadoline), and others are approved by the FDA, while agonists like OxiFast (oxycodone immediate release) are approved by the FDA.
These are being used in various indications like digestive system disorders, alcohol dependence, opioid-related disorders, and others.
These are being used in various indications like Hyper analgesia, mitigating opioid dependence, cough suppression, reducing anxiety and depression, and others.
Indivior Plc (USA), Alkermes (Ireland), Collegium Pharmaceutical (China), Purdue Pharma L.P. (USA), Shionogi Inc (Japan), Mundipharma International (UK) are some of the major market players for Delta Opioid Analogues.
Rising incidence of diseases, improvement in technologies, development of new treatment lines in the market, drug overdose, and changing lifestyles leading to drug abuse and drug dependence are the key opportunities for Delta Opioid Analogues in the market.