cvl-354 cvl-354 cvl-354 is an opioid antagonist which is under development for the treatment of major depressive disorder and substance-related disorders (e.g., opioid use disorder). it acts as a selective antagonist of the κ-opioid receptor. the drug is also more weakly an antagonist of the μ-opioid receptor, with about 31-fold lower affinity and 27-fold lower inhibitory potency at the μ-opioid receptor relative to the κ-opioid receptor. cvl-354 is taken by mouth. it was originated by pfizer and is under development by cerevel therapeutics. as of september 2022, cvl-354 is in phase 1 clinical trials for major depressive disorder and is in the preclincal stage of development for substance-related disorders. cvl-354clinical dataroutes ofadministrationoral administrationdrug classopioid antagonist; κ-opioid receptor antagonist