Enabling Development of a Fentanyl Vaccine
Addressing Opioid-Related Overdoses and Deaths
More than 70% of drug use-related deaths are connected with opioids including fentanyl, and more than 30% of those are caused by overdose.* While overdose risks can be addressed with medications such as naloxone, their limitations (such as requiring multiple doses and inducing withdrawal symptoms) have shifted the focus to the development of opioid vaccines for prophylactic and therapeutic use.
A Prophylactic, vaccine-enabling Solution
Researchers at HJF and collaborators have developed six novel fentanyl hapten (antigen) compositions that could serve as the basis for preparation of fentanyl vaccines. They contain a thiol linker that facilitates coupling of the fentanyl hapten to a carrier protein, thereby inducing formation of antibodies against fentanyl for passive immunization. Preclinical data demonstrated the efficacy of using the novel hapten compositions as vaccines to protect mice against fentanyl. Data also show the antibodies produced to be highly specific - they bind to fentanyl, but not to methadone, naltrexone, buprenorphine, or naloxone. Promising results also indicate a high antibody titer against fentanyl hapten compositions that increases post immunization.
Applications
- Development of fentanyl vaccine therapeutics
- Research on opioid-related mechanisms
Solution Advantages
- Preventive: Reduces or slows opioid distribution in the blood and reduces the amount of unbound opioid that can reach the brain.
- Non-interfering: Provides a prophylactic treatment that is not expected to interfere with other overdose treatment medications or endogenous neuropeptides.
- Robust: Is expected to provide longer-lasting treatment than overdose medications alone due to the long life of antibodies produced and the promising long antibody titer demonstrated in animal testing.
- Specific: Induces an antifentanyl immune response without also inducing an immune response to opioid addiction medications.
Development Status
Preclinical proof of concept completed.
Patent status: Patent pending.
Licensing Opportunities
HJF is seeking partners and/or licensees for this technology.