A new medication to help people with opioid use disorder
A novel and highly selective orexin 1 receptor antagonist for the treatment of patients with opioid use disorder
This project is developing a new medication to help people overcome opioid use disorder and prevent relapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Eolas Therapeutics, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palm Beach Gardens, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310553 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Opioid use disorder is a serious health challenge, and current treatments often struggle to prevent relapse. Our team, working with partners, has developed a promising new medication called AZD4041 that targets a specific brain receptor. In laboratory animals, this medication helped reduce the desire for opioids and prevented relapse-like behaviors without causing unwanted side effects like sleepiness. We have already started testing its safety in healthy volunteers, and early results are positive. The next steps involve further safety testing in volunteers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is currently seeking healthy volunteers for safety testing, with future opportunities likely for individuals with opioid use disorder.
Not a fit: Patients not interested in taking a new medication or those with certain medical conditions might not benefit from this particular approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new medication could offer a more effective way to help individuals with opioid use disorder maintain abstinence and avoid relapse.
How similar studies have performed: This approach is based on a novel, selective target, and while the specific medication is new, the concept of targeting brain receptors for addiction has been explored in other contexts.
Where this research is happening
Palm Beach Gardens, United States
- Eolas Therapeutics, INC. — Palm Beach Gardens, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kenny, Paul J. — Eolas Therapeutics, INC.
- Study coordinator: Kenny, Paul J.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.