On August 1, 2007, an NIH grant in the amount of $1,245,928 for a period of 3 years was awarded to Professor Mark Wentland’s group to continue their efforts to identify new treatments for substance abuse.

The main goal of their research is to design, synthesize and characterize potential medications to treat cocaine abuse in humans. The design and synthesis of new agents is performed by Renssealer medicinal chemistes and biological characterization of target compounds is conducted by Dr. Jean M. Bidlack and coworkers at the University of Rochester.

An exclusive license agreement was reached on September, 29, 2006 between RPI and Alkermes, Inc. for novel opiates discovered by the Wentland-led team. Alkermes will be responsible for the continued research and development of any resulting product candidates.

Published September 21, 2007