Novel endogenous pain therapy based on the target DREAM   Downstream Regulatory Element Antagonistic Modulator (DREAM) is a key molecule for pain regulation:   It is an essential factor that negatively controls the synthesis of the endogenous opioid dynorphin and therefore represents a new target for the treatment of pain. Importantly, loss of DREAM affected all modalities of pain, ranging from acute chemical, heat, or mechanical to internal, inflammatory, and chronic neuropathic pain.
	Therapeutic approach and achievements   Substances that release DREAM from the respective DNA and thereby activate the synthesis of the endogenous opioid prodynorphin would in essence not be analgesics per se, but trigger the production of endogenous opioids in the treated individual. Up to date this project has been performed together with Evotec AG (Germany) as partner for high throughput screening. Following high throughput screening and hit optimization, compounds have already been identified that selectively interfere with the binding of DREAM to the respective DNA motif and increase prodynorphin transcription.
	Partnerships to continue development are welcome