Developing a long-lasting treatment for opioid overdose
Official title: IND-enabling development of a long-duration antagonist to treat opioid overdose
Funded at Consegna Pharma, INC. · NIH-10929469 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new version of naloxone, a lifesaving medication for opioid overdoses, that could help keep people safe for up to 24 hours after an overdose, making it easier to manage these situations outside of hospitals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Consegna Pharma, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $837,364 |
| NIH project number | 5R44DA050386-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10929469 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals at risk of opioid overdose, including those with opioid use disorder or those using high-potency opioids.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use opioids or are not at risk of opioid overdose may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a new formulation of naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, that lasts significantly longer than current options. The goal is to develop a product that can provide protection against opioid overdose for 12 to 24 hours, addressing the issue of 'renarcotization' where patients can relapse into overdose after initial treatment. By utilizing an innovative design, this research aims to improve the safety and effectiveness of opioid overdose management, especially in non-hospital settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a more effective and longer-lasting treatment option for individuals experiencing opioid overdoses, potentially saving lives.
How similar studies have gone: While naloxone has been widely used, this approach to developing a long-acting formulation is novel and has not been extensively tested in previous research.
Where this research is happening
-
Consegna Pharma, INC.
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zana, Lawrence J — Consegna Pharma, INC.
- Study coordinator: Zana, Lawrence J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Long-lasting naloxone to prevent repeat opioid overdoses
A new long-acting naloxone formulation designed to protect people who overdose on fentanyl and other powerful opioids from falling back into overdose.
-
Using long-lasting ketamine to treat substance use disorders without side effects.
This study is testing a new long-lasting injectable form of ketamine to help people with substance use disorders by reducing cravings and supporting recovery, while aiming to make the treatment easier to stick with and more comfortable.
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.