Chemistry:MGM-16
MGM-16 is an opioid drug which is a synthetic derivative of mitragynine, a natural product derived from the Southeast Asian tree kratom. It is the 9-fluoro derivative of another semi-synthetic mitragynine derivative MGM-15, and is a comparatively potent opioid analgesic with approximately 240x the potency of morphine.[1][2][3][4][5][6] While several semi-synthetic derivatives of mitragynine such as 7-hydroxymitragynine and MGM-15 were widely sold in the United States as unscheduled designer drug alternatives to illicit opioids from around 2023-2026, it is unclear whether MGM-16 has appeared on the market to any significant extent. Nevertheless, on 2 July 2026 the DEA published a notice of intent to schedule three 7-hydroxymitragynine-related substances (mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16) under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ "Orally active opioid μ/δ dual agonist MGM-16, a derivative of the indole alkaloid mitragynine, exhibits potent antiallodynic effect on neuropathic pain in mice". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 348 (3): 383–392. March 2014. doi:10.1124/jpet.113.208108. PMID 24345467.
- ↑ Kratom and Other Mitragynines. 2014. doi:10.1201/b17666. ISBN 978-1-4822-2519-8.
- ↑ "A Review on the Antinociceptive Effects of Mitragyna speciosa and Its Derivatives on Animal Model". Current Drug Targets 19 (12): 1359–1365. 2018. doi:10.2174/1389450118666170925154025. PMID 28950813.
- ↑ "Site selective C-H functionalization of Mitragyna alkaloids reveals a molecular switch for tuning opioid receptor signaling efficacy". Nature Communications 12 (1). June 2021. doi:10.1038/s41467-021-23736-2. PMID 34158473. Bibcode: 2021NatCo..12.3858B.
- ↑ "Analgesic Opioid Ligand Discovery Based on Nonmorphinan Scaffolds Derived from Natural Sources". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 65 (3): 1612–1661. February 2022. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01915. PMID 34995453.
- ↑ "From Kratom to Semi-Synthetic Opioids: The Rise and Risks of MGM-15". Drug Testing and Analysis 17 (12). September 2025. doi:10.1002/dta.3952. PMID 40936282.
- ↑ "Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of Mitragynine Pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15, and MGM-16 in Schedule I". 2026-07-06. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/06/2026-13581/schedules-of-controlled-substances-temporary-placement-of-mitragynine-pseudoindoxyl-mgm-15-and.
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