Small molecule treatments to ease opioid withdrawal and dependence
Official title: Development of small molecule therapeutics for mitigating opioid withdrawal syndrome
Funded at Evodenovo, INC. · NIH-11398161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new project aims to create small molecules that target a specific brain receptor to relieve opioid withdrawal symptoms and reduce dependence, potentially helping people who are using opioids for pain.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Evodenovo, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (andover, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $687,310 |
| NIH project number | 5R44DA053844-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398161 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with opioid use disorder or those at risk of dependence who may benefit from new therapeutics.
✕Less likely to help
People without opioid exposure or those not seeking withdrawal-management strategies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This initiative focuses on developing drug-like compounds that act on GPR139 to separate pain relief from addictive effects of opioids. Researchers will combine medicinal chemistry, genetic neuron models, GPCR signaling, and opioid pharmacology to design and test candidates. The goal is to improve pain management while lowering the risk of withdrawal and relapse for people with opioid use disorder. The project spans several years and involves collaboration among experts at Evodenovo, Inc.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience safer pain relief with a lower risk of dependence and withdrawal.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests targeting GPCR signaling can separate therapeutic effects from addictive properties, but human translation is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Evodenovo, INC.
andover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Labed, Sid Ahmed — Evodenovo, INC.
- Study coordinator: Labed, Sid Ahmed
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Medicines to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms
This project aims to create new small-molecule medicines that target a brain receptor to help people with opioid use disorder have milder withdrawal symptoms.
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Creating new medications to help reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms
This study is looking for new medications that can help people going through opioid withdrawal by targeting a specific receptor in the brain, aiming to provide pain relief without the risk of addiction, and patients may have the chance to try these new treatments in clinical trials.
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.