Fentanyl vaccine begins human clinical trials

The vaccine developed by the University of Houston to combat the effects of fentanyl is about to begin clinical trials on humans. The vaccine has already completed the animal testing phase and is expected to become an effective ally in combating deaths from drug overdoses, a problem that has plagued the United States for years.

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a medication that acts as an analgesic, indicated for anesthesia in patients undergoing heart surgery or with impaired heart function. It is also used to treat moderate to severe pain, but in the latter case, it is only used when other analgesics have not had any effect or cannot be used.

When ingested, in addition to relieving pain, fentanyl promotes relaxation and a feeling of well-being, which contributes to its dependence. Fentanyl is also often produced and sold illegally by drug traffickers, who use chemicals from China. According to experts, it is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.

According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there was a 7.5-fold increase in deaths caused by overdoses of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, between 2015 and 2021. Another study, conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, revealed that nearly 74,000 Americans died from the same cause in 2022.

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_{Homeless people in San Francisco, California, using fentanyl (Photo: reproduction/Anadolu/Getty Images Embed)}

How the vaccine works

Unlike conventional vaccines, Fentanyl Armor, as it was named, produces an antibody against fentanyl, which binds to it, preventing it from reaching the brain. Therefore, the substance remains in the bloodstream until it is naturally eliminated by the body. According to Ovax, the biopharmaceutical company that holds the vaccine's license, it will be updated annually to ensure effective and continuous protection against the opioid.

Colin Haile, leader of the group responsible for discovering the fentanyl vaccine, said that the vaccine will save many people. However, one of the challenges faced by researchers is to complete the clinical trial phase as quickly as possible, as this stage can take 10 to 15 years to complete. During this stage, the level of safety, the ideal dosage and possible side effects are established.

Featured photo: Vials with fentanyl (Reproduction/Site/United States Drug Enforcement Administration)