Modern plasters leave no trace when treating chronic wounds.
Unlike medication used to alleviate severe pain, which often contains addictive opioids. Which is why a biotechnology startup in France is focusing on developing painkillers without the addictive potential.
The blueprint for future non-opioid drugs: the body’s own TAFA4 protein, which is secreted in response to touch, and normalises the activity of gating neurons in the spinal cord.
These determine how stimuli and pain signals are sent to the brain. But injury compromises their efficiency, meaning harmless stimuli are upgraded to pain. Something the protein actively reverses.
TAFA4 is non-toxic, thought to be non-addictive and effective even after repeated administration. A pilot study is underway.
Archives also offer new medical solutions.
