Oliceridine for the Management of Acute Postoperative Pain

To review the pharmacological characteristics, clinical evidence, and place in the management of acute postoperative pain severe enough to require an intravenous opioid.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed (January 2000 to December 1, 2020). Key search terms included oliceridine or acute postoperative pain. Other sources were derived from product labeling and ClinicalTrials.gov.

All English-language articles identified from the data sources were reviewed and evaluated. Phase I, II, and III clinical trials were included.

Oliceridine is a novel selective µ-receptor G-protein pathway modulator. It has the property of activating G-protein signaling while causing low β-arrestin recruitment to the µ-receptor. Intravenous oliceridine showed statistically superior analgesia than placebo in patients with moderate or severe pain after surgery, with a favorable safety and tolerability profile regarding respiratory and gastrointestinal adverse effects, compared with morphine.

The analgesic capacity of oliceridine is at least comparable to that of morphine at clinically relevant dosages, with a rapid onset of action. Also, it may be associated with a lower incidence of adverse events at dosing regimens associated with comparable analgesia. These data suggest that oliceridine may provide an important new treatment option for the management of moderate to severe postoperative pain where an intravenous opioid is warranted.

Oliceridine has obvious analgesic effects in patients with moderate or severe pain after surgery; additionally, it has a favorable safety and tolerability profile.