SR-8993

SR-8993 is a potent, brain-penetrant, small-molecule agonist of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ (NOP) receptor, also known as the opioid receptor-like 1 (ORL1) receptor. Developed by researchers at the University of Miami, it exhibits high selectivity (>100-fold) for the NOP receptor over the mu-opioid receptor and negligible activity at delta- and kappa-opioid receptors. In preclinical research, SR-8993 has demonstrated the ability to reduce voluntary alcohol intake, suppress operant self-administration, and block both cue- and stress-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking in rat models. It also reverses acute alcohol withdrawal-induced anxiety and has been explored in animal models of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to its ability to regulate amygdala-dependent fear.