University of Maryland chemists tested Pillar[6]MaxQ (P6AS) as a drug overdose for non-opioid drugs. Experiment results published in chemistry
“There are a number of non-opioid drugs such as methamphetamine, mephedrone, ecstasy (MDMA), and cocaine. They have no antidotes, so we cannot save people who have overdosed on these substances, ”explained the scientists.
Laboratory tests showed that P6AS successfully attenuated the potentially lethal biological effects of drugs such as methamphetamine, ecstasy, mephedrone, and fentanyl. P6AS works like a molecular container; this means that it binds and isolates other compounds, locking them inside itself.
When we put molecules in our ‘container’, we can turn off their biological properties and thus reverse the effects they cause. Testing has shown that the effects of methamphetamine can be reversed by administering P6AS five minutes later and fentanyl 15 minutes later. This is still not enough to save lives in real conditions, ”explained the scientists.
In the future, chemists will refine the substance to extend this period. Researchers will also run tests to see if the compound helps clear the drug from the body.
It will likely take years before a new compound is approved for human use, the scientists said.