A compound generated by artificial intelligence-based tools predicted to bind to the kappa-opioid receptor. Researchers are turning to artificial intelligence to create and optimize potential new drugs to help people with opioid addiction. It is estimated that about three million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder, and every year more than 80,000 Americans die from overdoses. Opioid drugs, such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, and morphine, activate opioid receptors. Activating mu-opioid receptors leads to pain relief and euphoria, but also physical dependence and decreased breathing.

AI is assisting in the creation and optimization of drugs to treat opioid addiction.Researchers are seeking the assistance of artificial intelligence to create and optimize potential new drugs to help opioid addicts. An estimated 3 million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder, and more than 80,000 Americans die from drug overdoses each year. Opioids, such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, and morphine, activate opioid receptors. Activation of the mu-opioid receptors leads to pain relief and euphoria, but also to physical dependence and loss of respiratory function, the latter being the cause of death in the case of drug overdose. Preclinical studies suggest that blocking the kappa-opioid receptor may offer a promising pharmacological approach to treating opioid dependence. By discovering drugs that inhibit the kappa opioid receptor, Leslie Salas Estrada of the lab of Marta Filizola at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai hopes to alleviate opioid addiction.