# Development of Novel Neuropeptide B/W Receptor 1 Agonists

> **NIH NIH R03** · RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE · 2020 · $214,589

## Abstract

Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a major family of targets for drug development; however, only a small
number of GPCRs have successfully provided drugs on the market and many remain understudied for
therapeutic applications. A lack of suitable tool compounds is a major obstacle to understand physiological
functions of these understudied GPCRs. Neuropeptide B/W Receptor 1 (NPBWR1) has been suggested to hold
great potential for several therapeutic applications, particularly for pain treatment based on its overexpression in
patients' samples and in vivo studies using endogenous neuropeptides. Due to their metabolic instability and
poor membrane permeability, these native neuropeptides require central administration, making them unsuitable
for therapeutics development. Till date, no small molecule agonists have been discovered yet. Recognizing the
unmet need to develop more stable and druglike tool compounds to facilitate research on this promising target,
we propose to develop NPBWR1 agonists using a two-pronged approach, peptidomimetic design and
repurposing opioid receptor ligands.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10047390
- **Project number:** 1R03TR003370-01
- **Recipient organization:** RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Thuy Nguyen
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $214,589
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-10 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10047390

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10047390, Development of Novel Neuropeptide B/W Receptor 1 Agonists (1R03TR003370-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10047390. Licensed CC0.

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