Opioid vaccine trial aims to block Drug's brain effects
NCT ID NCT04458545
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a vaccine that helps the body produce antibodies against oxycodone, a commonly abused prescription opioid. The goal is to reduce the drug's ability to reach the brain and lower its pleasurable effects. The trial involves 45 adults with opioid use disorder and focuses on safety, immune response, and drug liking. It is not a cure but a new tool to support ongoing treatment.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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About 45 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Oct 2020
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 59 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
1. Evidence of a personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study. 2. Males and females aged 18 to 59 years. 3. Females must be non-pregnant, non-lactating and either be of non-childbearing potential (i.e. sterilized via hysterectomy or bilateral tubal ligation or at least 1 year post-menopausal) or of childbearing potential but practicing a medically acceptable method of birth control 4. Meets current DSM 5 criteria for moderate-severe Psychiatric OUD, physical dependence on opioids, and current use of Examination opioids will be in amounts and/or frequencies that meet or exceed those used in the study (3-4 tablets of a prescription opioid medication per day or 1-2 bags of heroin and/or fentanyl per day). Participants may meet criteria for other behavioral disorders (e.g. gambling) or substance use disorders (cocaine or marijuana), but cannot be physically dependent on drugs that pose risk of withdrawal that requires medical management such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Participant must self-identify their opioid of choice as being other than oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone (e.g., a heroin and/or fentanyl user). In addition, we will only include individuals who have prior experience with intranasal opioid use. Only participants with a minimum use of 1-2 bags of heroin and/or fentanyl per day and a maximum of 20 bags of heroin/fentanyl per day will be enrolled. The lower limit ensures that participants are physically dependent on opioids and are able to tolerate the proposed morphine maintenance regimen. The upper limit is consistent with our current experience in recruiting this population (where use of 30-50 bags/day is commonly reported because of the shorter duration of psychoactive effects produced by fentanyl compared to heroin). 5. Not currently seeking treatment for drug use as defined by urine samples positive for illicit opioids, and at least 2 urine samples negative for buprenorphine and methadone, spaced at least 3 days apart, prior to enrollment. 6. Willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, dosing plan, laboratory tests, and other study procedures. 7. Patients who weigh less than 300 pounds and /or have less than a maximum girth of 52 inches. Exclusion Criteria 1. Participation in a clinical trial and receipt of investigational drug(s) during 30 days (or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) prior to randomization. 2. Sensitivity, allergy, or contraindication to opioids, alum, or any components of the vaccine 3. Prior exposure to opioid vaccines or vaccines containing Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin. 4. Use of prescription psychotropic medications that would potentially interfere with study procedures 5. Women of childbearing age who are pregnant, lactating or, not practicing or willing to begin a medically acceptable method of birth control. 6. Cannot read or understand the self-report assessment forms unaided or are so severely disabled that they cannot comply with the requirements of the study. 7. Medical conditions that may make study participation hazardous: * History of seizures or cardiac risk conditions (unstable angina, cardiac arrhythmias, chest pain, strong palpitations (subjectively defined as the feeling that the heart is beating too hard, too fast, skipping a beat, or fluttering). * Elevated liver function tests (i.e., AST and ALT \> 2 times the upper limit of normal). * Impaired renal function (creatinine \> 1.2). * Hypertension (\>140/90). * Asthmatic symptoms within the past 3 years. * Active hepatitis \[e.g. symptomatic with a positive test for hepatitis B (HBsAg), hepatitis C antibody (HCV), HIV1/HIV2 antibody/antigen\]. * Significant hepatocellular injury as evidenced by elevated bilirubin levels (\>1.3), or elevated levels (over 3x the upper limit of normal) of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). * Creatinine clearance estimated to be less than 60 ml/min. * Current gastric disease such as peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, or any gastrointestinal malignancy or precancerous condition. * Sleep apnea as assessed by the STOP-Bang questionnaire; those with high risk will be excluded from the study * Hemoglobin: Women \<11.5; men \<13. 8. Newly diagnosed HIV infection or known HIV infection with CD4 counts below normal levels, active tuberculosis, or other immunocompromising diseases. For HIV testing, we follow guidelines from the New York State Department of Health (https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/aids/providers/testing/docs/testing\_fact\_sheet.pdf) 9. Current chronic pain (persistent for longer than 3 months). 10. Current or history of psychotic disorder or other severe Axis I disorder based on DSM 5 criteria, other than OUD, including physical dependence on drugs that pose risk of withdrawal that requires medical management such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Participants diagnosed with dysthymia or mild-moderate depression with no recent suicidal ideation may be included. Recent suicidal ideation" is defined as thoughts about suicide within the past month. 11. Previous serious or unexpected adverse reaction to a vaccine, including GuillainBarré syndrome. 12. Use of inhaled corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents or other medications within 30 days prior to administration of investigational product that might interfere with an immune response. Antihistamines may not be used within 7 days prior to administration of investigational product. 13. Use of any vaccine, with the exception of influenza vaccine, or COVID-19 vaccine 30 days prior to administration of study product. Participants who have received the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine will not be eligible to receive study product until 30 days after they have received the second vaccine dose; participants who have received the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will not be eligible to receive study product until 30 days after they have received the vaccine dose. 14. Known history of cancer or cancer treatment within 12 months prior to administration of investigational product. 15. Receipt of blood products within 3 months of screening. 16. Anticipated inability to fulfill all visits and examination procedures throughout the study period (approximately 12 months). 17. Individuals who are on medication-assisted treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (e.g., buprenorphine, buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone, naltrexone). We will also exclude participants from our study who "doctor shop" by reviewing information obtained from PMPs. 18. Individuals who currently (within the past 3 months) have a temporary restraining order (TRO) against them or against another person.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Clinilabs Drug Development Corporation
RECRUITINGEatontown, New Jersey, 07724, United States
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New York State Psychiatric Institute: Division on Substance Use Disorders
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITINGNew York, New York, 10032, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can coaching turn rural clinics into One-Stop shops for addiction and infectious disease care?
- Can a Phone-Based platform keep people in opioid treatment?
- A safety net after jail: can checkups keep opioid treatment on track?
- Can AI and peer support close the opioid treatment gap?