ADVANCING THERAPEUTICS FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS THROUGH NIDA’S THERAPEUTICS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) supports and conducts the research and development of safe and effective therapeutics for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). These efforts span a broad range of intervention modalities, including pharmacotherapies (small molecules and biologics), therapeutic devices, digital therapeutics, and behavioral interventions. NIDA’s Therapeutics Development Program (TDP) funds a diverse portfolio of preclinical and clinical research projects, encompassing the full development continuum—from identification and optimization of lead compounds, through IND-enabling studies and IND submission, to all phases of clinical trials, including Phase III. The overarching goal of the TDP is to advance promising therapeutics toward U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval or acceptance and implementation in clinical practice. The program supports research through both grants and contracts, with the majority of funding provided via cooperative agreement grants. These funding mechanisms are open to for-profit and nonprofit organizations at both national and international levels, fostering broad collaboration across sectors. This presentation will provide an overview of the NIDA Therapeutics Development Program and highlight the current pipeline of medications and other therapeutic approaches under investigation for the treatment of SUDs and overdose. Information on current funding opportunities for therapeutics development at NIDA is available at: https://nida.nih.gov/about-nida/organization/divisions/division-therapeutics-medicalconsequences-dtmc/research-programs#PDP

Learning Objective 1: Describe the scope and structure of the NIDA Therapeutics Development Program for SUDs, including opioid, cocaine, methamphetamine, and cannabis use disorders.

Learning Objective 2: Identify key medications and other therapeutic approaches currently in the development pipeline for the treatment of SUDs and overdose.

References

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