A drug that helps prevent intoxication has shown promise in a study of mice. When the animals took the drug and then were given a large amount of alcohol, they didn’t show signs of being drunk, the New York Daily News reports.

The researchers explained the drug targets immune system cells. They said their findings suggest intoxication affects the immune response in the brain as well as the nervous system. Shutting off the immune system response reduces the effect of alcohol. Lead researcher Mark Hutchinson said in a news release he believes similar treatments could be effective in humans.

The results are published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.