opioid addictionlike fentanyl, has become a major public health problem in the United States. The incidence is so high that some parts of the country already seem like real zombie cities, where people are being destroyed by drugs on every corner. Overdose deaths follow one another, and neither the government nor the health authorities anymore know how to solve a problem that is actually based on many different principles. It is clear that there is economic and social background, with the help of which, perhaps, many problems could be nipped in the bud. But in the meantime, we started thinking about developing fentanyl vaccinewhich helps to avoid, as far as possible, overdose mortality.
There is a big difference between opioids and a virus, such as the one that causes COVID-19. The virus usually spreads unintentionally. On the other hand, fentanyl, heroin and other similar drugs are consumed intentionally. But even if consumption is voluntary, you can try prepare the immune system for attack.
That’s what the fentanyl vaccine does. The immune system is stimulated to produce antibodies that bind to this and other opioids. preventing them from entering the brain. In this way, not only can many of its immediate consequences be avoided, but fatal long-term overdose can also be prevented. For now, it has only been tested on animals such as rats and pigs, but human clinical trials are expected to begin in 2024.
Could a fentanyl vaccine be the solution?
This fentanyl vaccine has shown very good results in animal testing. That’s why, in 2024 Clinical trials on humans will begin. But this will be done gradually.
They’ll test it first very small dose, possibly ineffective, for the purpose of analyzing the safety of the drug. This is the first thing that is always done in clinical drug trials. If not noticeable side effects, the dose will be gradually increased until the ideal dose is determined to be safe; but, in addition, it adequately produces antibodies against opioids.
This means there is still a long time until, if all goes well, this fentanyl vaccine becomes a reality.
Therefore it is advisable go look for other solutions. It is obvious that the easy availability of this drug, which is much cheaper than other recreational drugs, as well as the underlying social problems are the clear reasons for this addiction. You can try to suggest solutions there.
The good part about the vaccine is that thanks to adjuvant which enhances its effect, the protective reaction can last from 2 to 4 years. That is, during this time, even if vaccinated people use opioids, it will be very difficult for them to survive an overdose.
In any case, we won’t know for sure until human clinical trials are completed. We will be monitoring very closely the results of using these weapons in the fight against a problem that He was born in the USAbut it is spreading to the rest of the world like a real pandemic.
Source: Hiper Textual
