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Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Receptor Autoradiography Protocol for the Localized Visualization of Angiotensin II Receptors
Published on: June 7, 2016
Angiotensin II type 2 receptor signalling as a pain target: Bench, bedside and back-translation
Andrew J Shepherd1, Andrew Sc Rice2, Maree T Smith3
1The MD Anderson Pain Research Consortium and the Laboratories of Neuroimmunology, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Abstract:
Translating promising preclinical pain relief data for novel molecules from drug discovery to positive clinical trial outcomes is challenging. The angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor is a clinically-validated target based upon positive proof-of-concept clinical trial data in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia. This trial was conducted because AT2 receptor antagonists evoked pain relief in rodent models of neuropathic pain. EMA401 was selected as the drug candidate based upon its suitable preclinical toxicity and safety profile and good pharmacokinetics. Herein, we provide an overview of the discovery, preclinical and clinical development of EMA401, for the alleviation of peripheral neuropathic pain.
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