A heroin-targeting monoclonal antibody (11D12) is effective in blocking the euphoric and lethal effects of this much-abused opioid, reported a study conducted on mice by scientists at the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, CA. The findings offer a promising new strategy for treating heroin addiction and overdose.
Kim Janda, PhD, a professor of chemistry at Scripps Research is the senior author of the study
“Our findings suggest that a monoclonal antibody-based therapy will be more effective than a vaccine and should be targeted to heroin itself rather than its psychoactive metabolites,” said Kim Janda, PhD, the Ely R. Callaway, Jr., professor of chemistry, director of the Worm Institute for Research & Medicine at Scripps Research, and the senior author of the study.
