VVZ-149 is an analgesic candidate which acts as a glycine transporter type 2 (GlyT2) blocker and the serotonin receptor 5 hydroxytryptamine 2 A (5-HT2A) antagnonist. This study  randomized, parallel-group, double-blind study the use of  VVZ-149 injections to relieve pain and decrease opioid consumption in patients undergoing laparoscopic and robot assisted laparoscopic gastrectomy.

The pain relieving efficacy and safety of VVZ-149 injections has been been explored for pain of moderate to severe intensity after gastrectomy.

A total of 60 patients undergoing laparoscopic and robot assisted laparoscopic gastrectomy were included in this randomized double-blind study. These patients were subjected to a 10 hour intravenous infusion of VVZ-149 injections or placebo, started almost 1 hour prior to the execution of surgical suturing.

Severity of pain and opioid usage via patient-controlled analgesia and rescue analgesia provided "as required" were regarded were regarded as the main outcome measures. Efficacy of treatment was further determined in a subpopulation needing early rescue medicine.

Along with lesser demands for patient-controlled analgesia, a lower pain intensity was observed in the VVZ-149 (30 patients) as compared to placebo (29 patients). The pain intensity was statistically significant at 4 hours post-emergence (p < 0.05), with a 29.5% reduction in opioid usage for 24 hours. VVZ-149 also lead to 32.6% less opioid usage for 24 hours and reduced pain intensity in the rescued subgroup.

VVZ-149 proved to effective in decreasing postoperative pain and opioid needs. Patients with early rescue requirement had greater advantage from VVZ-149, thereby confirming that VVZ-149 may help in providing pain relief and reduce excessive opioid consumption postoperatively.