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Introducing Rafias
Building the Future of Addiction Treatment
Addiction affects millions worldwide, and relapse during abstinence remains the hardest problem to solve. Stimulant use disorders have no FDA-approved medications, and behavioral therapies alone lead to high relapse rates and costly inpatient care.
Rafias is pioneering the first pharmacologic therapy engineered to prevent relapse during the abstinence phase, when the stakes are highest and current treatments fail.
5.2M
U.S Cocaine Users
1.3M
With CUD Needing Treatment
$7.8B
Total Addressable Market
$5.5k
Annual Inpatient Rehab Cost
$6k/y
Estimated Cost of Rafias' Therapy
$18k
Limited Cost Savings per Patient
Advancing science toward the first treatment for cocaine use disorder
Our Focus Areas
Target Discovery
Rafias discovered that Nr4a1, a transcription factor, is linked to addiction resilience. Activating Nr4a1 reduces drug-seeking behavior and restores neural balance in preclinical models.
Drug Development
We are designing next-generation Nr4a1 activators with improved stability and specificity. Each candidate undergoes rigorous potency, selectivity, and safety screening.
Translational Research
Preclinical studies confirm efficacy disorder and safety benchmarks, bridging foundational neurobiology with therapeutic application.
Platform & Partnerships
Supported by NIH Small Business Funding and Penn's Center for Innovation, Rafias is building a first-in-class platform to deliver safe, effective addiction therapeutics to market.
NIH-Funded Innovation,
Backed by Penn Research
$230K
NIH U18 Grant (Target Discovery)
$405K
NIH STTR Phase 1 Grant (Lead Identification)
$1M
NIH STTR Phase II (Prototype Development, pending)
Published Research
Nature Communications (2020)
Nr4a1 suppresses cocaine-induced behavior via epigenetic regulation of homeostatic target genes
This study demonstrates that activating Nr4a1 reduces cocaine-seeking behavior and restores adaptive gene expression programs, establishing Nr4a1 as a promising target for relapse-prevention therapeutics.
Nature Communications (2022)
Cell-type-specific profiling of histone modifications in addiction
This work maps histone modification patterns across neuronal subtypes, revealing epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to addiction vulnerability and recovery.
Scientific Reports (2022)
Sex-specific Nr4a1 regulatory dynamics in addiction-related neural circuits
This study uncovers sex-specific patterns of Nr4a1 regulation across key brain regions, highlighting biological differences that shape vulnerability and adaptation in addictive behaviors.
Our Mission
We are developing the first safe and effective medication to prevent relapse in stimulant use disorder. Our work advances neurobiology and chemistry to restore the brain’s capacity for sustained recovery.
Rafias targets Nr4a1, a transcription factor linked to addiction resilience. Through translational research at the University of Pennsylvania, we’re validating Nr4a1 as a first-in-class therapeutic target and building a commercially viable drug development pipeline.
Members of the Heller Lab, 2025
Team Rafias
Elizabeth A Heller, Ph.D.
Founder, Rafias | Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Soumita Ghosh, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Mass Spectrometry, ADMET, University of Pennsylvania
Aleksa Milosavljevic, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist, Organic Synthesis, University of Pennsylvania
Kyle Kampmann, M.D.
Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania | Director, Charles O'Brien Center for the Treatment of Addictions
Join The Next Phase of Rafias
Interested in our science, investment opportunities, or collaboration? Complete the form and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.