--- title: "New Vaccine Blocks Fentanyl in Brains of Rats" description: "Researchers have come up with a vaccine that can block the effects fentanyl has on the brain in mice, which is being hailed as a \"game changer.\"" date: "2022-11-20" modified: "2022-11-20" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/vaccine-blocks-fentanyl-brains-rats" categories: - "Brain" - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "fentanyl" - "opioids" - "vaccine" --- # New Vaccine Blocks Fentanyl in Brains of Rats ![Researchers have come up with a vaccine that can block the effects fentanyl has on the brain in mice, which is being hailed as a "game changer."]() *\Image: Getty Images/Futurism\* Researchers have come up with a vaccine that appears to block fentanyl from getting rats high. They're [hailing the research]() as a "breakthrough discovery," potentially paving the way for a new treatment for people trying to kick an opioid addiction. Fentanyl addiction remains an enormously serious problem in America and worldwide. It can be up to [50 times stronger]() as the already-formidable heroin, and 100 times stronger than morphine. As such, it greatly contributes to both fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the United States, with an estimated 150 Americans dying every day from synthetic opioids like fentanyl, according to the CDC. Worse yet, [around 80 percent]() of those who seek treatment for opioid addiction will relapse within a month of being discharged from a detox program. In other words, a vaccine against fentanyl addiction like the one developed by scientists at the University of Houston could provide a much-needed lifeline to many people suffering from the opioid epidemic. "We believe these findings could have a significant impact on a very serious problem plaguing society for years – opioid misuse," said Colin Haile, a researcher at UH and lead author of a [new study]() published in the journal *Pharmaceutics*, in a [statement](), adding that individuals "can 'get back on the wagon' to sobriety." The rats also never experienced any side effects, according to the researchers. "The anti-fentanyl antibodies were specific to fentanyl and a fentanyl derivative and did not cross-react with other opioids, such as morphine," Haile said. Clinical trials in humans are already in the planning stages. The researchers anticipate kicking off the manufacturing of a clinical-grade version of the vaccine within months. But blocking the brain from experiencing the effects of fentanyl could have other unintended consequences as well. For one, fentanyl is still a commonly used drug in hospitals across the country. Anesthesiologists still inject fentanyl to relieve severe pain and to allow anesthetics to work better during surgery. It's particularly useful thanks to its relatively short-lived effects, allowing for faster recovery during minor surgical procedures. Similar drugs like morphine and codeine, on the other hand, have much longer lasting effects. It's a fascinating new development, a potentially groundbreaking vaccine that could have far-reaching consequences for those who are struggling with addiction. But given the fact that fentanyl is still a widely used and highly effective drug — not to mention the difficulties of making treatment plans accessible to all and the [highly politicized nature of drug enforcement]() — the situation is anything but straightforward. **READ MORE:** [Fentanyl Vaccine Breakthrough – Potential “Game Changer” for Opioid Epidemic]() \[University of Houston\] **More on fentanyl:** *[Cops Keep Having Impossible Fentanyl "Seizures" on Camera for Some Reason]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()