Antibody to reverse fentanyl and analog overdoses
Development of a monoclonal antibody to reverse overdose from fentanyl and its analogs: from manufacturing to clinical trials
A humanized antibody treatment meant to capture fentanyl and similar drugs in the blood to help people experiencing an opioid overdose.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11363835 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are completing manufacturing and the lab and animal safety, dosing, and efficacy studies needed before testing this antibody in people. The antibody works by binding fentanyl and its analogs in the bloodstream so the drugs cannot act on the brain, and it can be used alongside standard overdose treatments like naloxone. After the preclinical work, the team plans a Phase I trial to check safety and how the antibody is processed in humans. If safe, later trials would test whether it can prevent or reverse life‑threatening respiratory depression in people at risk of fentanyl exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Initial enrollment will likely involve healthy adult volunteers for Phase I safety testing, with later studies recruiting people with opioid use disorder or others at high risk of fentanyl exposure.
Not a fit: People whose symptoms are caused by non-opioid drugs or by medical problems unrelated to opioid toxicity are unlikely to benefit from this antibody.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could offer a more specific and longer-lasting way to reverse fentanyl overdoses and reduce deaths when current treatments are insufficient.
How similar studies have performed: Anti-drug monoclonal antibodies have shown success in preventing or reversing fentanyl effects in animal studies, but human testing of fentanyl-specific mAbs remains limited.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pravetoni, Marco — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Pravetoni, Marco
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.