Developing new medications to help people stop using cocaine
Official title: Advancing mGlu1 positive allosteric modulators as therapeutics to facilitate abstinence in cocaine use disorder
Funded at Eleutheria Pharmaceuticals LLC · NIH-10577196 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new medication that could help people with cocaine addiction by reducing their cravings, making it easier for them to stay on the path to recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Eleutheria Pharmaceuticals LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $325,386 |
| NIH project number | 1R41DA057437-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10577196 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with cocaine use disorder who experience cravings and are seeking treatment options.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a cocaine use disorder or those who are not experiencing cravings may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating new therapeutic agents that target the metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGlu1) to help reduce cravings in individuals with cocaine use disorder. The approach involves using positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) that can reverse the brain changes associated with cocaine craving. By studying how these modulators affect brain synapses, the research aims to identify effective treatments that could facilitate long-term abstinence from cocaine. Patients may benefit from a new medication that could lessen their cravings and support their recovery efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a new FDA-approved medication that significantly reduces cocaine cravings and supports recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting glutamate receptors for addiction treatment, indicating potential success for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Eleutheria Pharmaceuticals LLC
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wolf, Marina Elizabeth — Eleutheria Pharmaceuticals LLC
- Study coordinator: Wolf, Marina Elizabeth
Related research
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Understanding how early life stress and cocaine exposure shape brain and behavior in adults
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Psilocybin-Assisted ACT for Co-Occurring Cocaine Use Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder
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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.
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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.
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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.