"Breakthrough Antibody Reverses Potent Opioid's Effects, Boosts Treatment Efficacy"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by SciTechDaily
Scientists at Scripps Research have developed an antibody therapy that effectively reverses the life-threatening effects of the potent opioid carfentanil in preclinical tests. The antibody, in single-chain fragment variable (scFv) format, binds tightly to carfentanil and other fentanyl variants, and when administered shortly after an overdose, it reverses the potentially deadly respiratory depression caused by carfentanil. This antibody therapy could provide a longer-lasting and more powerful treatment for synthetic opioid overdoses compared to existing options. The researchers have licensed the rights to further develop and market the antibody to a pharmaceutical company, with clinical trials planned to begin this month.