UM Center for Translational Medicine, part of the Missoula-based University of Montana, is helping create vaccines to prevent fentanyl and heroin drug overdoses, which are approaching human trials, according to an Aug. 29 report from NBC Montana.
The vaccines work to increase the production of antibodies against target opioids, aiming to protect individuals with a drug addiction or people at risk of an accidental overdose by enabling a stronger immunity.
"Our vaccines are designed to neutralize the target opioid, while sparing critical medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone and naloxone, which are used in treatment of opioid addiction and reversal of overdose," said Marco Pravetoni, PhD, director of the University of Washington's Center for Medication Development for Substance Use Disorders, which is partnering with UM on the vaccines.
The first clinical trials will focus on safety and early efficacy of two vaccines treating heroin and fentanyl separately. Once the clinical trials are successful, the researchers plan on developing a combined multivalent vaccine to target both drugs. The researchers anticipate their investigational new drug applications to be finalized with the FDA in late 2023 human testing to begin in early 2024, according to the report.