Cocaine is the second most trafficked illegal substance in the world with more than 756 metric tons seized every year from authorities. In the United States, over 35 million people over the age of 12 have reported using cocaine, while being the most frequent illegal drugs reported by emergency rooms. Its popularity is due to its highly addictive nature and contributes to over $11 billion in healthcare-related expenditures for treatment. There are an estimated 3000 male and 1000 female overdose deaths every year in America.  As such, there is a significant unmet need for new treatment options to help reduce dependence on the drug and prevent relapse.

The technology disclosed describes the use of heat-killed Mycobacterium vaccae in a vaccine delivery modality to reduce or eliminate dependence on cocaine while preventing future relapse. Preclinical studies demonstrated the vaccine prevented stress-induced neuroinflammation and sensation, altered serotonin levels as well as reduced stress and anxiety behaviors in animal models.

Potential Application

This vaccine could be used in those suffering from cocaine addiction and subsequent relapse. Vaccination would elicit an immune response against cocaine-induced inflammation of the nervous system thereby reducing dependence on the drug. It’s likely iterations of the vaccine could also be used in other anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Opportunity

The drug addiction treatment market size was $4.6 billion in 2015 and projected to exceed $12 billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 12.4 percent. Rapid rise in market share is due to the alarming spike in addiction to controlled substances. It’s estimated cocaine addiction occupies 15-20 percent of the overall market share.

Rowan University is looking for a partner for further development and commercialization of this technology through a license.