NIDA Fuels Revolution: Ensysce's Overdose-Proof Opioid Poised to Change Pain Management Forever
- Shield Against the Storm: Ensysce Biosciences (NASDAQ:ENSC) has secured a critical $5.3 million funding installment from NIDA, supercharging its mission to combat the opioid crisis with the groundbreaking PF614-MPAR.
- Revolutionary Defense: Armed with unique TAAP™ and MPAR® technologies, PF614-MPAR offers potent pain relief while actively preventing overdose, a game-changing approach already recognized by the FDA's coveted Breakthrough Therapy designation7.
- Accelerating Hope: This vital funding, part of a $15 million grant, propels the potentially life-saving innovation towards patients, marking a pivotal advance in the fierce battle against opioid-related deaths5, 7.
In a pivotal move against the devastating opioid crisis, Ensysce Biosciences (NASDAQ:ENSC) today announced it has received a $5.3 million boost from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)7. This significant funding is the second installment of a $15 million, three-year grant, fueling the advance of PF614-MPAR – Ensysce's revolutionary weapon designed to provide powerful pain relief while dramatically reducing overdose risk.
PF614-MPAR, already distinguished with the FDA's prestigious Breakthrough Therapy designation7, is engineered with Ensysce’s proprietary TAAP™ (Trypsin-Activated Abuse Protection) and MPAR® (Multi-Pill Abuse Resistance) technologies2, 5. These innovative platforms ensure that PF614-MPAR delivers its therapeutic effect but incorporates built-in overdose protection, designed to limit the release of the active opioid even if multiple pills are taken beyond prescribed amounts, whether accidentally or intentionally. Promising clinical studies, supported by initial NIDA funding, have already validated this remarkable overdose prevention capability4.
This latest tranche of funding, for a phase that commenced on June 1, 2025, will accelerate the optimization of the final drug formulation, support further clinical evaluation, and prepare PF614-MPAR for commercialization.
Dr. Lynn Kirkpatrick, CEO of Ensysce, stated, "Our initial clinical results confirm what we set out to achieve - a safer opioid that can offer what we believe is real protection in overdose scenarios. PF614-MPAR is the only opioid product to receive FDA Breakthrough Therapy status, a testament to its potential impact. NIDA's continued support is a powerful endorsement of our mission to deliver innovative, life-saving solutions for pain management." (Research supported by NIDA under Award Number UO1DA059791).
As Ensysce Biosciences pushes forward, PF614-MPAR stands as a beacon of hope, aiming to reshape the landscape of pain treatment and offer a crucial lifeline in the ongoing public health battle1, 2, 6, 8. The company plans to engage with the FDA in the coming months to align on full development plans based on the robust data generated to date.
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