A New Medicine to Prevent Opioid Dependence

Development of a Novel Calcium Channel Therapeutic for Opioid Use Disorder

NIH-funded research Vivreon Biosciences, LLC · NIH-11135560

This project aims to create a new non-opioid medicine to help prevent people from becoming dependent on opioids after receiving them in the hospital.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVivreon Biosciences, LLC NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (San Diego, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11135560 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many patients in the hospital, especially those in trauma or intensive care, receive opioids for pain and sedation. Repeated use can lead to dependence, strong cravings, and withdrawal symptoms, putting them at risk for opioid use disorder after discharge. This often extends hospital stays and increases healthcare costs. Our goal is to develop a new type of medicine that is not an opioid, which could prevent this dependence from happening. This new medicine would help patients avoid the cycle of dependence and reduce their risk of developing opioid use disorder.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for future studies would be hospitalized patients who are receiving opioids for pain management, particularly those in trauma or intensive care units.

Not a fit: Patients who are not currently receiving opioids or who have already developed established opioid use disorder may not directly benefit from this specific preventative approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this new medicine could significantly reduce the risk of opioid dependence and opioid use disorder for hospitalized patients, leading to better health outcomes and shorter hospital stays.

How similar studies have performed: This project focuses on developing a novel, non-opioid chemical entity, representing a new and untested approach to preventing opioid dependence.

Where this research is happening

San Diego, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.