A Novel Treatment for Upper Respiratory Tract Irritation and Cough
Background: Traditional cough suppression therapy has included palliatives in the form of herbal remedies, narcotics such as codeine, and local anesthetics such as benzonatate. The anesthetic compounds have limited efficacy, while the narcotics cause severe side effects because they work through the activation of opioid receptors in the central nervous system. Technology: Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have discovered a naturally occurring compound that suppresses the cough reflex. When administered as an aerosol in a guinea pig capsaicin model, the compound is short-lived and therefore is unlikely to reach the systemic circulation. This reduces the potential for side-effects. In addition, the compound is expected to have higher potency over the traditional cough suppressants.
Patents:US 6,974,568
Type of Offer:
Licensing
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