The vaccine to combat fentanyl has already passed animal tests without side effects

A controversial drug is being prepared in US laboratories. It is a vaccine against the negative effects left by the consumption of fentanyl, the lethal drug that causes hundreds of deaths every year due to its consumption and overdose.

Well, in a study conducted by experts at the University of Houston, Texas, as well as other institutions and collaborators, e which was published by the magazine pharmaceutical, A vaccine has been released that aims to avoid the complications of the aforementioned drug.

As pointed out in the article, the opioid vaccine, including fentanyl, prevents the drug from reaching the brain and producing the typical effects on the behavior and health of those who consume it, therefore, in addition to avoiding death, it could also help end the abuse of these substances in the affected population.

“We believe these findings could have a significant impact on a very serious problem that has plagued society for years: opioid abuse,” explained in a letter to the public, Colin Haile, who in addition to being the lead author of the research, is also a research associate professor of psychology at UH and the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics (TIMES), and a fellow founder of the UH Drug Discovery Institute.

And I add: “Our vaccine is able to generate anti-fentanyl antibodies which bind to the consumed fentanyl and prevent it from entering the brain, allowing it to be eliminated from the body via the kidneys. Therefore, the individual will not feel the euphoric effects and will be able to ‘get back on the bandwagon’ towards sobriety”. Referring to the way the drug works.

Until now, the drug has been tested in clinical trials with some animals such as mice, who had no side effects and were immunized against the opioid, so The start of the next phase has been signaled, in which experts will create the vaccine with characteristics for humans, and will thus be able to begin testing with this population.

“The anti-fentanyl antibodies were specific for fentanyl and a fentanyl derivative and did not cross-react with other opioids, such as morphine. This means that a vaccinated person could still receive pain relief treatment with other opioids.”explained the scientist, stating that despite the consequences that may occur in response to other user conditions.

“The use and overdose of fentanyl is a particular therapeutic challenge that is not adequately addressed with current medications due to its pharmacodynamics, and the management of acute overdose with short-acting naloxone is not adequately effective as it often multiple doses of naloxone are needed to reverse the fatal effects of fentanylsaid Therese Kosten, who shares lead authorship of the essay, as well as being a professor of psychology and director of the behavioral neuroscience program.

sos, Kosten points out that the fentanyl vaccine represents a “game changer” in the midst of the war against fentanyl, which already adds to the synthetic opioids that cause more than 150 deaths a day in the United States, as it is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.