Our vaccine produces antibodies and allows the body to eliminate the drug.
That would allow an individual to get back on the wagon to sobriety, Haile said.
Currently, there is no vaccine approved for OUD.
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How Does a Fentanyl Vaccine Work?
The fentanyl-targeting adjuvant is paired with a carrier protein that is structurally similar to fentanyl.
It looks like fentanyl, but it has no biological activity, Haile said.
Can a Vaccine Really Fight Addiction?
Anti-addiction vaccines have been studied against other drugs in the past.
The antibody response for the nicotine vaccine also varied significantly between participants in the studies, he said.
Fentanyl, in contrast, is extremely potent in small doses.
Other vaccines are also currently in the works to combat cocaine, oxycontin, and methamphetamine addictions.
The situation in the U.S. and around the world is that we really need this vaccine.
The medications that we have now are not helping with the epidemic.
What This Means For You
A fentanyl vaccine is being studied to help combat the overdose epidemic.
If approved by the FDA, it could work in combination with other overdose prevention treatments.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Vital statistics rapid release: provisional drug overdose death counts.
American Addiction Centers.Opiate relapse: prevention and addiction treatment.
National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.Fentorafentanyl tablet[drug label].
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Adjuvants and vaccines.
