HHS Sponsors Development of Intranasal Form of Long-acting Opioid Overdose Drug

To help save lives in the current opioid epidemic or following a deliberate attack, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will work with Opiant Pharmaceuticals of Santa Monica, California, to develop a fast-acting, long-lasting intranasal, potentially improved form of an opioid overdose drug.

“The life-saving drug naloxone, while effective, often must be given multiple times to completely reverse the effects of an opioid in someone exposed to high doses. Repeat doses of the treatment may not always be feasible, especially in a large-scale terrorist attack,” said Rick Bright, Ph.D., director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. “Improved opioid exposure treatments are critical to adequately address this growing threat to public health and health security.”