Differential regulation of alcohol taking and seeking by antagonism at α4β2 and α3β4 nAChRs

Rationale Alcoholism is a serious public health problem throughout the world. Current pharmacotherapies for the treatment of this disorder are poorly effective. Preclinical and clinical findings point to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) as a promising target for the development of novel and effective medications. Assuage Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, has discovered a new class of potent and selective α4β2 nAChR antagonists.