Developing a new treatment to help reduce cocaine cravings
Official title: Advancing FGF13-Nav1.6 modulators to normalize Nucleus Accumbens activity for Cocaine Use Disorder
Funded at Iontx INC. · NIH-11168646 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a new medication might help people with cocaine addiction by targeting a specific protein in the brain that influences cravings and relapses, and it will be tested in lab models to see if it works safely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iontx INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2025 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $400,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R43DA063261-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168646 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with cocaine use disorder who are seeking treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a cocaine use disorder or those who are not actively seeking treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on cocaine use disorder, a serious condition with no FDA-approved medications. It investigates how a specific protein, FGF13, interacts with a sodium channel in the brain that affects cravings and relapse. By optimizing a new small-molecule compound, the research aims to create a medication that can help normalize brain activity in individuals struggling with cocaine addiction. The approach includes testing the compound in laboratory models to assess its effectiveness and safety.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a groundbreaking medication that significantly reduces cravings and relapse rates in individuals with cocaine use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting similar pathways in the brain for addiction treatment, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Iontx INC.
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lijffijt, Marijn — Iontx INC.
- Study coordinator: Lijffijt, Marijn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Modulating deep brain activity with focused ultrasound for cocaine use disorder
A study will test whether targeting a deep brain region with focused ultrasound can alter brain signals related to craving in people with cocaine use disorder.
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Understanding how early life stress and cocaine exposure shape brain and behavior in adults
This project follows a long-running study in monkeys to see how early maltreatment and adolescent cocaine use influence brain circuits and risk of addiction in adulthood.
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Psilocybin-Assisted ACT for Co-Occurring Cocaine Use Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder
A new treatment combines psilocybin with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people who have both cocaine use disorder and major depressive disorder.
-
Cholinergic Dysregulation and Cognitive Flexibility in Cocaine Use Disorder
A research study explores how cocaine changes brain signaling to affect flexible thinking and decision-making in people with cocaine use disorder.
-
Oligonucleotide therapy to help cocaine use disorder reach the brain
A new ASO-based approach aims to deliver gene-targeting therapy across the blood–brain barrier to help people with cocaine use disorder.
-
Accelerated TMS for Cocaine Use Disorder
A new, faster brain-stimulation treatment is being tested to help adults with cocaine use disorder reduce cravings and use.
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.