fentanyl vaccine

The fentanyl vaccine is an investigational immunotherapeutic designed to treat opioid use disorder and prevent fatal overdoses by sequestering fentanyl within the bloodstream. Developed by researchers at the University of Houston and licensed to companies including Ovax and ARMR Sciences, the vaccine consists of a fentanyl-like hapten conjugated to a carrier protein (such as tetanus toxoid or keyhole limpet hemocyanin) and combined with an adjuvant. Upon administration, it stimulates the production of highly specific anti-fentanyl antibodies. These antibodies bind to fentanyl molecules, creating a complex too large to cross the blood-brain barrier, thereby neutralizing the drug's euphoric and respiratory-depressant effects and allowing for elimination through the kidneys.

Other names

anti-fentanyl vaccine