New Approach to Fentanyl Overdose Receives Grant Funding

TMTRx is awarded a NIDA small business innovation research grant to investigate novel mechanisms for treatment of naloxone-resistant drug overdose.

Portland, OR: Synthetic opioids are the most common cause of overdose death in the U.S. Despite the widespread availability of naloxone, the only FDA-approved treatment for opioid overdose, deaths from fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (fentanyls) are rising, along with increasing reports of resistance to naloxone. 

Research to be conducted by Torralva Medical Therapeutics (TMT), under a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, will explore the development of a new class of therapeutics specific to overdose of fentanyls.

According to Randy Torralva, M.D., principal investigator and chief executive officer of TMT, “In 2020, fentanyls were responsible for over 60% of all overdose deaths. Our research and public health data both indicate that fentanyl overdose cannot be treated effectively by naloxone, so it’s really important to develop new treatments specific to fentanyls.”

The human need is clear. TMT vice president for business development, Arundeep Pradhan, M.S. stated, "currently, 157 people die each day and it’s getting progressively worse. With the increased prevalence of fentanyl in street drugs, especially morphine and heroin, a solution is critical for distribution to addiction centers – and to protect our first responders.”

TMT plans to develop novel drug formulations in combination with naloxone. Said Torralva, “With overdose, time is of the essence. There’s no time for lab analysis. A combination therapeutic means the person who administers treatment doesn’t have to worry about selecting which drug is needed to treat a fentanyl or heroin overdose.” 

About TMTRx: TMT is a drug development company based in Portland, OR. Founded by pre-eminent doctor, researcher, and addictionologist, Randy Torralva, M.D., TMT seeks to develop novel therapeutics to address drug overdose.