opioidTRACE® Analgesic Profiling
Providing a comprehensive pharmacological profile for analgesic candidates
With Melior’s wide array of validated animal models of pain, and with the heightened interest in identifying low-abuse analgesics to address the opioid crisis, Melior has configured an in vivo pharmacology platform aimed at specifically profiling opioid therapeutics and related analgesics.
Specifically, this platform addresses the multiple features characteristic of opioids, including rodent models that evaluate:
Over the course of a few weeks Melior can provide a comprehensive pharmacological profile of an analgesic candidate describing not just its performance in animal models of pain but also its potential liability profile. The platform is fully customizable and can be configured towards a “screening mode” that is higher throughput suitable for screening advanced candidates or “full characterization mode” suitable for more in depth analysis of a lead. Most of the models that Melior uses in this area can be performed in either rats or mice. Most importantly, given the years of experience and frequency with which Melior runs these models, we will provide you with an interpretive brief that provides important context to the data that you receive. We strive to be not just a service provider but a true partner in your drug discovery and development program.
Frequently Asked Questions
opioidTRACE® is Melior Discovery’s in vivo analgesic screening platform for evaluating opioid and non-opioid pain therapies. It measures both pain relief and safety liabilities, including respiratory depression, GI effects, and abuse potential, in a single study.
opioidTRACE® evaluates acute and chronic pain efficacy alongside key opioid safety risks, including respiratory depression, gastrointestinal effects, and abuse liability, providing a comprehensive pharmacology profile.
opioidTRACE® is designed for organizations developing opioid or non-opioid pain therapies that need to evaluate efficacy, safety, and abuse liability before advancing to clinical development.
Yes. The platform supports high-throughput screening of multiple candidates and in-depth characterization of lead compounds, allowing teams to progress seamlessly from discovery to candidate selection.
Studies can be performed in rats or mice, depending on your research objectives and study design.
Most studies are completed within a few weeks, depending on the selected models and whether the study focuses on screening or full characterization.
Yes. Melior is DEA licensed for Schedule I–V controlled substances and AAALAC accredited, enabling compliant evaluation of opioid and other scheduled compounds.
Interested in learning more about opioidTRACE®?
If you are interested in learning more about in vivo profiling of analgesic candidates across multiple animal models of pain, respiratory depression, GI motility, and/or abuse liability, please contact us to start the conversation today!
