The Need:

Cocaine abuse has been an issue in the United States since the late 1980s. The highly addictive qualities along with the low cost ruined people’s lives and destroyed communities. Naloxone (marketed as Narcan) is highly effective but can only be used in the event of an overdose. Therefore, the need for a preventative drug to help addicts break their addiction is immense.

The Technology:

This is a knock-in line. It carries a triple mutation in the dopamine transporter gene rendering them resistant to the rewarding effects of cocaine. In a more technical sense, cocaine affinity is decreased via the mutations. Experiments were conducted via a mouse model. The DAT-CI knock-in mouse model is available from The Jackson Laboratory (Strain #:024165).

Commercial Applications:

• Treats a serious medical issue in the US
• Effective research tool that could be a gateway to other applications

Benefits/Advantages:

• Proactive treatment instead of reactive
• Genetic change doesn’t require a strict pill regiment