--- title: "Psych News Alert: Study Provides Clues for Designing New Anti-Addiction Medications" description: Scientists are one step closer to developing anti-addiction medications with new research that provides a better understanding of the proper... image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/kappa%20%20%20JDTic-Jun-24-2025-05-33-55-2826-PM.jpg --- 3/22/12 12:00 AM # Study Provides Clues for Designing New Anti-Addiction Medications ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/study-provides-clues-for-designing-new.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/study-provides-clues-for-designing-new.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/study-provides-clues-for-designing-new.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/study-provides-clues-for-designing-new.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/study-provides-clues-for-designing-new.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/kappa%20%20%20JDTic-Jun-24-2025-05-33-53-2251-PM.jpg?width=154&height=200&name=kappa%20%20%20JDTic-Jun-24-2025-05-33-53-2251-PM.jpg)](https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/kappa%20%20%20JDTic-Jun-24-2025-05-33-54-2585-PM.jpg) Scientists are one step closer to developing anti-addiction medications with new research that provides a better understanding of the properties of the kappa opioid receptor (KOR), the only member of the opioid receptor family whose activation counteracts the rewarding effects of addictive drugs. Because the KOR is not associated with the development of physical dependence or the abuse potential of opiate drugs such as heroin and morphine, medications that act at the KOR could have broad therapeutic potential. The leading therapeutic compound is JDTic; its specific binding to the KOR has been shown to reduce relapse to cocaine seeking in animal models. JDTic is in clinical trials to assess its safety and tolerability in humans. Now, researchers based at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, Calif., have produced a high-resolution three-dimensional image of JDTic bound to the human KOR. The emerging picture reveals critical new information that helps explain why JDTic binds so tightly and specifically to this particular opioid receptor. Their findings were published online March 21 in *Nature*. “Drug abuse and addiction remain devastating public health challenges in the United States,”  “This research could aid in the development of effective medications for the treatment of drug addiction, particularly to stimulants like cocaine," said NIDA Director Nora Volkow, M.D. To read about another medication that shows promise for treating opioid addiction, see *Psychiatric News* [here](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=481208). (Image: Yekaterina Kadyshevskaya, The Scripps Research Institute) [addiction](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/addiction), [kappa opioid receptor](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/kappa-opioid-receptor), [JDTic](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/jdtic) ## Related posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/P1020206-Jun-24-2025-04-15-17-0528-PM.jpg?height=200&name=P1020206-Jun-24-2025-04-15-17-0528-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2015/04/experts-consider-best-options-for.html) [opioid abuse](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/opioid-abuse), [Rep. Tim Murphy](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/rep-tim-murphy), [medication-assisted treatment](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/medication-assisted-treatment) ## [Experts Consider Best Options for Treatment, Prevention of Opioid Abuse](https://alert.psychnews.org/2015/04/experts-consider-best-options-for.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 4/24/15 12:00 AM Opioid addiction experts from across the country were on Capitol Hill yesterday to provide expert... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2015/04/experts-consider-best-options-for.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Capitol_133769291-Jun-24-2025-10-25-55-9083-PM.jpg?height=200&name=Capitol_133769291-Jun-24-2025-10-25-55-9083-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/07/senate-passes-addiction-treatment.html) [APA](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/apa), [U.S. Senate](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/u-s-senate), [psychiatry](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatry), [Saul Levin](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/saul-levin), [opioid addiction](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/opioid-addiction), [opioid](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/opioid), [CARA](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cara), [naloxone](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/naloxone), [Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/comprehensive-addiction-and-recovery-act), [drug addiction](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/drug-addiction), [buprenorphine](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/buprenorphine), [addiction treatment](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/addiction-treatment) ## [Senate Passes Addiction Treatment Legislation](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/07/senate-passes-addiction-treatment.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 7/15/16 12:00 AM Yesterday the U.S. Senate passed, by a vote of 92 to 2, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/07/senate-passes-addiction-treatment.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_82362988-Jun-24-2025-10-40-56-5831-PM.jpg?height=200&name=shutterstock_82362988-Jun-24-2025-10-40-56-5831-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/08/drug-combination-shows-potential-for.html) [naltrexone](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/naltrexone), [cocaine](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cocaine), [cocaine addiction](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/cocaine-addiction), [buprenorphine](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/buprenorphine) ## [Drug Combination Shows Potential for Treating Cocaine Addiction](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/08/drug-combination-shows-potential-for.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 8/9/12 12:00 AM A combination of buprenorphine and naltrexone can reduce cocaine intake without producing opioid... 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