Developing new medications to combat fentanyl addiction
Official title: iPSC-derived human neurons and OUD medications development
Funded at Chemregen INC · NIH-11069507 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on new pain medications that don’t use opioids, like fentanyl, to help people manage pain safely and reduce the risks of addiction.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Chemregen INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $399,536 |
| NIH project number | 1R43DA062459-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11069507 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with a history of opioid use disorder or those affected by fentanyl-related issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not struggling with opioid addiction or who do not have a history of opioid use may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating non-opioid medications to address the opioid crisis, specifically targeting the dangers of fentanyl. The team will design and test small molecule compounds that do not interact with opioid receptors, aiming to provide safer alternatives for pain management. They will utilize human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons to evaluate the effectiveness of these compounds against fentanyl and other opioids. This innovative approach seeks to expedite the development of new treatments for opioid misuse and addiction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer medications for individuals struggling with opioid addiction, reducing reliance on dangerous substances like fentanyl.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting non-opioid receptors is innovative, similar research has shown promise in developing alternative treatments for pain management and addiction.
Where this research is happening
-
Chemregen INC
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gomez-Galeno, Jorge E. — Chemregen INC
- Study coordinator: Gomez-Galeno, Jorge E.
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.