Developing new treatments for substance use disorder
Official title: Preclinical Development of Novel Dual OXR/KOR Antagonists for Treatment of Substance Use Disorder
Funded at Hager Biosciences, LLC · NIH-10400321 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at new medications that could help people struggling with cocaine addiction by targeting certain brain receptors to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, with the hope of improving recovery chances in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hager Biosciences, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethlehem, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | September 29, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2021 |
| Award (this year) | $5,598,515 |
| NIH project number | 1UF1DA054817-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10400321 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a diagnosis of cocaine use disorder or those who have struggled with substance use issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not affected by substance use disorders or those who are not seeking treatment for addiction may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating novel medications that target specific receptors in the brain to help treat substance use disorder, particularly cocaine addiction. By investigating the effects of dual antagonists on orexin receptors, the study aims to understand how these compounds can reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Patients may benefit from a new pharmacotherapy that could improve their chances of recovery from addiction. The research involves preclinical testing, which means it is currently in the laboratory phase before moving to human trials.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective new treatments for individuals struggling with cocaine addiction.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of targeting orexin receptors is promising, the specific dual antagonist strategy is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Hager Biosciences, LLC
Bethlehem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Butera, John a — Hager Biosciences, LLC
- Study coordinator: Butera, John a
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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.