UC professor’s method to treating cocaine addiction highlighted

WVXU, Local 12 report on researcher’s unique approach

The work of University of Cincinnati pharmacology professor Andrew Norman to treat cocaine addiction has been featured by WVXU and Local 12.

Norman and his team at UC and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have developed a human-made protein that acts like a regular antibody in the immune system, called a monoclonal antibody, in an effort to treat cocaine addiction. The antibody binds to cocaine and prevents it from entering the brain.

The approach, which is awaiting Food and Drug Administration approval to proceed with first‐in‐human trials, offers hope of a potential treatment for people addicted to cocaine.

“They have to be motivated to want to quit and the cocaine and the antibody will help them quit by having no effect of cocaine," Norman told WVXU. "So they take the cocaine and the cocaine is neutralized and has no effect. And in that way, because it’s not having its effect it won’t induce a relapse response.”

Norman's approach is one that has been successful for other therapies, including COVID-19 vaccines.

“We came up with the idea of taking a so-called monoclonal antibody, and these are specific antibodies, and they are used therapeutically a lot these days for various things, including COVID-19,” Norman told Local 12.

See more from WVXU.

See more from Local 12.

Featured image at top: University of Cincinnati professor Andrew Norman, left, works in his lab. Photo/Colleen Kelley/UC Creative Services.

Impact Lives Here

The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.

Related Stories

1

Cincinnati Edition: U.S. joins a growing number of governments...

March 24, 2023

TikTok has 1.5 million users in the United States, and is currently under review by the U.S. congress. The Chinese company has been accused of aggregating data for nefarious purposes, as it is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Cyber security expert Richard Harknett was a guest speaker on "Cincinnati Edition" to discuss measures that might be, or should be, taken to protect Americans privacy and national security

2

P&G alum revs up gaming scene in UC Esports Lab

March 24, 2023

In September 2021, Brad Walsh became the coordinator for the University of Cincinnati Esports Lab, which opened the following August inside the 1819 Innovation Hub. Prior to this role, Walsh had 30 years of experience in process development as a technical director managing intellectual property at Procter and Gamble.

3

Inspiring others as a UC NEXT Innovation Scholar

March 23, 2023

A Latina student at University of Cincinnati is paving the way for future generations by breaking cycles. Being the first in her family to attend college came with a myriad of challenging experiences for Yulia Gimena Martinez, a student at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS).

Debug Query for this