4-{2-[5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]ethyl}morpholine (S1RA, E-52862) is an 1-arylpyrazole class of sigma-1 receptor antagonist. Formalin-induced nociception (both phases), capsaicin-induced mechanical hypersensitivity and sciatic nerve injury-induced mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity were dose-dependently inhibited by systemic administration of S1RA. Occupancy of sigma-1 receptors in the CNS was significantly correlated with the antinociceptive effects. As a mechanistic correlate, electrophysiological recordings demonstrated that pharmacological antagonism of sigma-1 receptors attenuated the wind-up responses in spinal cords sensitized by repetitive nociceptive stimulation. Esteve is developing E 52862 for the treatment of several pain indications, including diabetic neuropathies, chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, postherpetic neuralgia, postoperative pain. Phase II development of this first-in-class agent is underway in Romania, Spain and Greece.