NIH Highlights Pioneering Research by Drs. Cotten and Marota on using CS-1103 to Reverse Meth Poisoning by Protecting Against Overheating; Low Oxygen Levels; Organ Injury; and Muscle Breakdown
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Updated: 9 hours ago
Cambridge, MA | August 2026
In a preclinical study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, CS-1103 protected against methamphetamine overdose, for which there are currently no medications. This pioneering work was conducted by Dr. Joe Cotten, MD, PhD and Dr. Elie Adam, PhD at Mass General Brigham in collaboration with Clear Scientific's Medical Director, Dr. John Marota, MD, PhD.
This research developed the first small animal model of acute methamphetamine toxicity that translates to what humans experience in an overdose situation, including breakdown of heart, lung, and kidney functions. Critically, the sequestrant CS-1103 protected against these effects. Sequestrants such as CS-1103 are vault-like molecules designed to trap harmful substances and clear them from the body.
Phase 2 clinical trials are already underway to test whether CS-1103 can prevent meth and fentanyl toxicity in humans.
About the Methamphetamine Crisis:
Acute methamphetamine intoxication remains a critical public health crisis in the United States, with an estimated 563,000 emergency department visits and over 29,000 deaths involving meth in 2024 alone. The condition is associated with severe neurological, cardiovascular, and multi-organ complications, including agitation, psychosis, hyperthermia, cardiac distress, and renal failure. Current treatments are limited to supportive care, which often involves medications that carry significant risks such as oversedation, respiratory depression, cardiac complications, and prolonged hospital stay.
About CS-1103
CS-1103 is a first-in-class injectable small molecule sequestrant that binds and inactivates target compounds, rapidly reversing their effects and accelerating their clearance into urine. Clear Scientific is initially targeting methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine overdose, representing close to 95% of drug fatalities in the US. The Company’s pipeline includes indications in substance use disorder, central nervous system (CNS) and metabolic diseases amongst others.
About Clear Scientific
Clear Scientific was co-founded in March 2019 by Professor George M. Whitesides of Harvard University with technology licensed from Massachusetts General Hospital and the University of Maryland. Clear Scientific is pioneering a new paradigm for treatment of conditions and diseases that involve an excess of specific compounds in the body. Clear Scientific receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and is working with their network of medical and academic professionals.
For more information, visit https://www.clearsci.com
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