The highly selective dopamine D R antagonist, R-VK4-40 attenuates oxycodone reward and augments analgesia in rodents

Prescription opioid abuse is a global crisis. New treatment strategies for pain and opioid use disorders are urgently required. We evaluated the effects of R-VK4-40, a highly selective dopamine (DA) D3 receptor (D3R) antagonist, on the rewarding and analgesic effects of oxycodone, the most commonly abused prescription opioid, in rats and mice. Systemic administration of R-VK4-40 dose-dependently inhibited oxycodone self-administration and...