Cancer patients may have a new option for managing pain, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The non-addictive treatment is “plant-derived molecule resiniferatoxin (RTX).” A group of NIH researchers found the therapy to be “a safe and effective agent for pain control in patients with intractable cancer pain” after a clinical trial.
Participants received a single injection of RTX “and found that it reduced their reported worst pain intensity by 38% and their use of pain-relieving opioids by 57%.” They also reported better quality of life and being able to spend more time with loved ones.
The researchers hope RTX will be beneficial for other types of pain.
