M-sKLH

M-sKLH is a **conjugate vaccine** designed to induce immunity against heroin and its active metabolites, notably morphine and 6-acetylmorphine. It is made by conjugating a morphine-based hapten (typically an N-morphine derivative such as M(gly)4OH) to subunit keyhole limpet hemocyanin (sKLH), a highly immunogenic carrier protein, and adsorbing the conjugate onto alum adjuvant for enhanced immune response[1]. M-sKLH functions by stimulating the body to generate specific antibodies that bind and neutralize heroin and its metabolites in the bloodstream, thereby reducing their distribution to the brain and mitigating their psychoactive effects. Preclinical studies in rodents have shown that vaccination with M-sKLH leads to high titers of anti-morphine antibodies, effectively decreasing heroin-induced antinociception and drug distribution to the brain. The vaccine’s mechanism is strictly immunological, leveraging antibody-mediated sequestration of the target opioids before they reach central nervous system receptors[1]. Developed for the treatment or prevention of **opioid use disorder** (OUD), particularly heroin addiction, M-sKLH is also studied in combination with similar vaccines targeting oxycodone for a bivalent opioid vaccine approach[1].

Brand names

M-sKLH

Other names

morphine-sKLHmorphine-gly-sKLH