In the two decades since the discovery of the nociceptin opioid receptor
(NOP) and its ligand, nociceptin/orphaninFQ (N/OFQ), steady progress has been
achieved in understanding the pharmacology of this fourth opioid
receptor/peptide system, aided by genetic and pharmacologic approaches. This
research spawned an explosion of small-molecule NOP receptor ligands from
discovery programs in major pharmaceutical companies. NOP agonists have been
investigated for their efficacy in preclinical models of anxiety, cough,
substance abuse, pain (spinal and peripheral) and urinary incontinence, whereas
NOP antagonists have been investigated for treatment of pain, depression and
motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease. Translation of preclinical
findings into the clinic is guided by PET and receptor occupancy studies,
particularly for NOP antagonists. Recent progress in preclinical NOP research
suggests that NOP agonists may have clinical utility for pain treatment and
substance abuse pharmacotherapy. This review discusses the progress towards
validating the NOP-N/OFQ system as a therapeutic target.