An antidote to treat nicotine poisoning in children

An Enzyme-Based Antidote for Acute Nicotine Toxicity

NIH-funded research Scripps Research Institute, the · NIH-10931732

This study is working on a special antidote to help kids who accidentally swallow liquid nicotine from e-cigarettes, aiming to quickly make them safe and healthy again.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionScripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (La Jolla, United States)
Project IDNIH-10931732 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing an enzyme-based antidote specifically designed to counteract acute nicotine toxicity, particularly in children who may accidentally ingest liquid nicotine from e-cigarettes. The project aims to address the increasing incidents of nicotine poisoning, which can be life-threatening, by creating a treatment that can rapidly neutralize nicotine in the body. The approach involves innovative biochemical methods to enhance safety and efficacy in emergency situations. By targeting the pediatric population, the research seeks to provide a solution to a growing public health concern.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children under the age of 5 who may be at risk of accidental nicotine ingestion.

Not a fit: Patients who are not children or those who have not been exposed to nicotine will not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of severe outcomes from nicotine poisoning in children, potentially saving lives.

How similar studies have performed: While there has been limited research on specific antidotes for nicotine toxicity, the approach of developing enzyme-based treatments is innovative and has not been widely tested in this context.

Where this research is happening

La Jolla, 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.