Cara aims to develop a pipeline of first-in-class molecules at novel analgesic and anti-inflammatory targets using its proprietary drug screening technology, GPCR DimerScreen™. This novel technology is based on the recent discovery that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the most successful and therapeutically useful drug targets, can act by complexing with other GPCRs to form a functional receptor pair (a dimer) instead of acting alone as a single receptor (a monomer). GPCRs can pair up as a complex of two of the same receptors (a homodimer) or of two different receptors (a heterodimer). These receptor dimers can display pharmacological properties distinct from the receptor monomers, thereby enabling dimer-selective drug targeting.

Dimers also offer tissue selectivity based on regional or tissue specific expression allowing for the targeting of specific organs.