Antibody treatment that soaks up fentanyl to prevent overdoses
Official title: Antibody-based therapy for fentanyl-related opioid use disorder
Funded at Mclean Hospital · NIH-11422441 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new antibody medicine that soaks up fentanyl and similar opioids is being developed to protect people at high risk of overdose.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mclean Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Belmont, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $3,657,445 |
| NIH project number | 4UH3DA058544-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422441 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who use opioids or are otherwise at high risk of fentanyl exposure—especially those with prior overdose or frequent fentanyl exposure—would be the likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People whose opioid problems are unrelated to fentanyl or who cannot receive intravenous treatments may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
This project is developing CSX-1004, an antibody given into a vein that grabs fentanyl in the blood so it cannot act on the brain. In animal studies the antibody quickly reversed and prevented fentanyl-caused breathing problems for more than three weeks after a single dose. The team has completed key safety and manufacturing steps and has prepared for FDA investigational new drug (IND) filing to enable human testing. If human trials proceed, the medicine would be given by IV to help prevent or reverse fentanyl analog overdoses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a longer-lasting and potentially more effective way to block fentanyl overdoses without directly triggering opioid withdrawal.
How similar studies have gone: Antibody approaches against drugs of abuse have shown promising results in animals, but this approach has limited proven experience in treating human overdoses so far.
Where this research is happening
-
Mclean Hospital
Belmont, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Desai, Rajeev Indrajit — Mclean Hospital
- Study coordinator: Desai, Rajeev Indrajit
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Systems analysis to improve opioid use disorder care after jail release (SAIA-MOUD)
A program to help people with opioid use disorder get better, faster, and safer care after they leave jail.
-
Precise epigenetic drugs for opioid addiction
A tiny, targeted drug approach is being developed to help people with opioid use disorder by rewriting the epigenetic signals in the brain to reduce cravings and relapse risk.
-
Increasing Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder for Unhoused Montanans
This project helps unhoused people in Montana get life-saving medicines for opioid use disorder through clinics connected to syringe service programs, a nurse-led MOUD model, and peer support.
-
Optimizing long-acting PrEP and opioid treatment for people in jails and prisons
This project tests a real-world approach to using long-acting PrEP and buprenorphine for HIV prevention and opioid treatment among incarcerated individuals and after release.
-
Scaling up medications for opioid use disorder in residential treatment programs
This grant studies how to help residential treatment programs provide medications for opioid use disorder to reduce overdoses after discharge, focusing on real-world settings and policies.
-
Increasing Capacity at a Native Community Clinic to Improve Opioid Care for urban AI/AN
This grant helps a Native American health clinic build its research capacity to better serve urban American Indian and Alaska Native people dealing with opioid use disorder and related health issues.
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.