Fast-acting delivery to prevent and reverse fentanyl and other opioid overdoses
Official title: A novel drug delivery system for the prevention and rescue of fentanyl and other opioid overdoses
Funded at University of the Pacific-Stockton · NIH-11292418 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new way to deliver medicine quickly that could stop and reverse fentanyl and other opioid overdoses for people at risk or experiencing an overdose.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of the Pacific-Stockton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stockton, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $337,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058024-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11292418 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future trials would include adults at high risk of fentanyl exposure or with opioid use disorder, people with prior overdoses, and first responders or bystanders who might use the rescue option.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not exposed to opioids or not at risk of fentanyl exposure, and those with allergies to the study drugs or other exclusionary medical conditions (e.g., some pregnancies), may not benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
Researchers are developing a delivery method designed to get an antidote into the brain quickly to counter fentanyl and related synthetic opioids. They will optimize how the system crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to these drugs using lab and preclinical models and tests in blood and brain tissue. Safety and dosing studies will be done before any work moves toward human testing. If the project moves forward, future clinical work could include people at high risk of overdose or emergency responder settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide faster and more effective reversal of fentanyl-related overdoses, potentially reducing deaths and long-term brain injury.
How similar studies have gone: Existing antidotes like naloxone work for many overdoses but can be less effective for potent fentanyl analogs, so rapid brain-targeted delivery is a novel approach that is still largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
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University of the Pacific-Stockton
Stockton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alhamadsheh, Mamoun M — University of the Pacific-Stockton
- Study coordinator: Alhamadsheh, Mamoun M
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.