A UK research professor says the development of a fentanyl vaccine would provide a life-saving impact. Tom Prisinzano said an injection of the vaccine would remove the toxic compound from the body. Death resulting from the use of fentanyl-laced drugs has occurred to a significant degree. Prisinzano uses a baseball analogy to demonstrate the vaccine intent.
“So, if you think about the drug fentanyl is like a baseball and you think about a catcher’s mitt. It sort of grabs it and holds it and pulls it out of play,” said Prisinzano.
Prisinzano said he wouldn’t label a vaccine against fentanyl to be a game changer. The research professor said drug use is a complex issue and there’s nothing with this vaccine that would prevent a user to move to a different drug.
Prisinzano doesn’t see this injection as being a total solution when it comes to users.
“You’d be safe from an overdose of the specific agent. So, you would be safe from an overdose from fentanyl because the vaccine itself is geared toward fentanyl. But, it wouldn’t protect you if you were going to overdose on say heroin,” said Prisinzano.
The vaccine, as proposed, could remove the toxic effect from the bloodstream. Prisinzano noted there are also medicinal benefits of fentanyl as a painkiller with the appropriate potency. The university research professor added the establishment of a fentanyl vaccine would not result in enabling drug use. Prisinzano said the vaccine would remove the “high” effect of fentanyl.
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