Researchers at the University of Houston have come up with a fentanyl vaccine that could prevent fentanyl overdoses and deaths.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that's up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It's the deadliest drug threat facing the United State, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The vaccine creates anti-fentanyl antibodies that bind to the ingested fentanyl, preventing the drug from entering the brain and allowing the body to eliminate it through the kidneys.
The vaccine still needs Food and Drug Administration approval, with human trials expected to begin this year. If approved, the FDA said the vaccine could save millions of lives.
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