Sandra Codony, Beatrice Jora, Miriam Santos-Caballero, Qiongju Qiu, Carla Calvó-Tusell, Celia Escriche, Andreea L Turcu, Filippo Prischi, Clara Bartra, Cristina Val, Christophe Morisseau, Belén Pérez, Andrea Bertran-Mostazo, Sílvia Osuna, Rubén Corpas, Christian Griñán-Ferré, Carles Galdeano, M Isabel Loza, Mercè Pallàs, Coral Sanfeliu, Bruce D Hammock, José Brea, Ferran Feixas, Maria R Conte, Enrique J Cobos, Santiago Vázquez

DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2025.2574990

The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) has recently emerged as a promising target for the treatment of several pain-related conditions. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a peripherally restricted sEH inhibitor with high potency and good Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) properties. Molecular dynamics and X-ray crystallography helped reveal the binding of these inhibitors to sEH. The selected compound showed a robust analgesic effect in a dose-dependent manner in a murine model of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP). Moreover, the compound also prevented the development of paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain. Overall, these results suggest that peripheral inhibition of sEH might constitute a novel therapy to prevent and treat CINP.

Keywords: Benzohomoadamantane; chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain; epoxyeicosatrienoic acids; soluble epoxide hydrolase; urea.