Study to Evaluate the Relative Abuse Potential of Almorexant in Recreational Drug Users

Phase 1CompletedNCT01987739

Midnight Pharma, LLC42 enrolled

Overview

This was a six-way crossover study with six single-dose treatment sessions. The profile of acute effects on abuse potential measures of different almorexant doses was compared to that of placebo and two doses of zolpidem

This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, balanced, placebo and active-controlled, six-way crossover Phase 1 study with six single-dose treatment sessions. The profile of acute effects on pharmacodynamic abuse potential measures of different almorexant doses was compared with that of placebo and two doses of zolpidem.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Masking

TRIPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Abuse Potential Study

Interventions

200 mg almorexantDRUG

400 mg almorexantDRUG

1000 mg almorexantDRUG

20 mg zolpidemDRUG

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 55 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy male or female subjects 18 to 55 years of age, inclusive. * Recreational drug use with a history of CNS depressant use, defined as at least 10 lifetime occasions of non-medical use of drugs with depressant/sedative properties (e.g., benzodiazepines, barbiturates, gammahydroxybutyric acid (GHB), zopiclone, zolpidem, cannabis, etc.), and at least one instance of non-medical use in the past year. * Body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18 to 32 kg/m\^2, inclusive, and a minimum weight of 50 kg. * Female subjects of childbearing potential must have been practicing strict sexual abstinence or using a medically acceptable and reliable form of birth control with a failure rate of \< 1% per year from at least 1 month prior to Screening (at least 3 months for oral contraceptives) and for at least 1 month after the last study drug administration. Accepted methods of contraception included implants, injectables, combined oral hormonal contraceptives, some intrauterine devices, sexual abstinence, tubal ligation, or vasectomized partner. * Female subjects of non-childbearing potential must have been amenorrheic for at least 1 year following natural menopause or had a hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy (as determined by subject medical history). * Female subjects must have had a negative pregnancy test at Screening and at each admission. * Must have passed Qualification Visit eligibility criteria. * Must have been able to speak, read, and understand English sufficiently to understand the nature of the study, to provide written informed consent, and to allow completion of all study assessments. * Willing and able to abide by all study requirements and restrictions. * Give voluntary written informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Received an investigational drug in a clinical trial within 30 days prior to the Screening Visit. * Drug or alcohol dependence (except nicotine or caffeine) in the past 2 years as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), including subjects who had ever been in a drug rehabilitation program (other than treatment for smoking cessation). * Unwillingness or inability to abstain from recreational drug use as required for the study. * Positive urine drug screen at admission to Qualification or any Treatment Visit greater than the established threshold value, except for cannabinoids (THC; due to slow release from adipose tissue). If THC was positive, inclusion was at the discretion of the investigator or designee. Subjects with a positive urine drug screen were rescheduled up to 2-times at the investigator's/designee's discretion. * Positive breath alcohol test at Screening or at any admission. * Clinically significant abnormalities on physical examination, medical history, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), vital signs, or laboratory tests, including a history or presence of psychiatric, cardiovascular, pulmonary, hepatic, renal, hematologic, gastrointestinal, endocrine, immunologic, dermatologic, neurologic, or oncologic disease or any other condition, which in the opinion of the investigator would have jeopardized the safety of the subject or the validity of the study results. * Previous history of fainting, collapses, syncope, orthostatic hypotension, or vasovagal reactions. * Use of non-prescription medication, prescription medication, or natural health products (except vitamin or mineral supplements, acceptable forms of birth control, and hormone replacement) within 7 days prior to first drug administration in the Qualification Visit and throughout the study. Up to 1 g per day of acetaminophen was allowed at the discretion of the investigator. Concomitant medication known to inhibit or induce the cytochrome P3A4 isoenzyme was not allowed. Treatment with drugs metabolized by the cytochrome P2D6 isoenzyme was not allowed. * History of allergy or hypersensitivity to study drugs, related drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines or gamma-aminobutyric acid related drugs) or excipients (including lactose).

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Maximum effect (Emax) over 24 h post-dose for "At the moment" Drug Liking Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score during each Treatment Visit

Emax was determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented a 'Strong disliking' and a score of '100' represented a 'Strong liking'.

Time frame: 24 hours

Secondary Outcomes

Minimum Effect (Emin) and Time-weighted mean effect (TWMean) over 24 h post-dose for "At the moment" Drug Liking VAS score during each Treatment Visit

Emin and TWMean were determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented a 'Strong disliking' and a score of '100' represented a 'Strong liking'.

Time frame: 24 hours

Overall Drug Liking VAS score (Emax, Emin, and arithmetic mean effect of 8 h and 24 h post-dose assessments during each Treatment Visit)

Overall drug liking was determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented a 'Strong disliking' and a score of '100' represented a 'Strong liking'.

Time frame: 24 hours

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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Good/Bad Drug Effects VAS score (Emax, Emin, and TWMean over 24 h post-dose during each Treatment Visit)

Good/Bad Drug Effects were determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented 'I can feel bad effects' and a score of '100' represented 'I can feel good effects'.

Time frame: 24 hours

Take Drug Again VAS score (Emax and arithmetic mean of 8 h and 24 h post-dose assessments during each Treatment Visit)

Take drug again scores were determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented 'Definitely not' and a score of '100' represented 'Definitely so'.

Time frame: 24 hours

Subjective Drug Value (SDV) (Emax and arithmetic mean of 8 h and 24 h post-dose assessment during each Treatment Visit)

The SDV measure involved a series of independent, theoretical forced choices between the drug administered and different monetary values. Subjects were asked to choose between receiving another dose of the same drug to take home or an envelope containing a specified amount of money. However, they did not actually receive either the drug or the money offered in the choices. The monetary value of the drug or the envelope ranged from $0.25 to $50.00.

Time frame: 24 hours

Feeling High VAS score (Emax and TWMean over 24 h post-dose during each Treatment Visit)

Feeling high scores were determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented 'Definitely not' and a score of '100' represented 'Definitely so'.

Time frame: 24 hours

Good Drug Effects VAS score (Emax and TWMean over 24 h post-dose during each Treatment Visit)

Feeling good drug effect scores were determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented 'Definitely not' and a score of '100' represented 'Definitely so'.

Time frame: 24 hours

Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI) Morphine Benzedrine Group (MBG) scale (Emax and TWMean over 24 h postdose during each Treatment Visit)

Subjects responded by selecting "False" or "True" with a mouse. One point was given for each response that agreed with the scoring direction on the scale (i.e., true items received a score of 1 if the answer was "True", false items received a score of 1 if the answer was "False"). No points were given when the answer was opposite to the scoring direction. The questions and scoring were part of the 49-item ARCI scale.

Time frame: 24 hours

Bad Drug Effects VAS score (Emax and TWMean over 24 h post-dose during each Treatment Visit)

Feeling bad drug effect scores were determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented 'Definitely not' and a score of '100' represented 'Definitely so'.

Time frame: 24 hours

ARCI Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) scale (Emax and TWMean over 24 h post-dose during each Treatment Visit

Time frame: 24 hours

ARCI Pentobarbital Chlorpromazine Alcohol Group (PCAG) scale (Emax and TWMean over 24 h post-dose during each Treatment Visit)

Time frame: 24 hours

Alertness/Drowsiness VAS score (Emin [drowsiness] and TWMean over 24 h post-dose during each Treatment Visit)

Alertness/drowsiness scores were determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented 'Very drowsy' and a score of '100' represented 'Very alert'

Time frame: 24 hours

Bowdle VAS scores (Emax and TWMean over 24 h post-dose during each Treatment Visit)

The Bowdle VAS \[Bowdle 1998\] consists of 13 items for which the subjects were asked to rate their current feelings. Each VAS was scored from 0 to 100, with 0 reflecting "not at all" and 100 reflecting "extremely". Lower individual and overall scores indicated fewer psychedelic effects. The scale was adapted for computer presentation and took approximately 3 minutes to complete.

Time frame: 24 hours

Any Drug Effects VAS score (Emax and TWMean over 24 h post-dose during each Treatment Visit)

Feeling any drug effects scores were determined on a Drug Liking VAS which assessed positive and negative drug effects (Griffiths 2003, Milovan 2009, Schoedel 2008). VAS items were displayed on two screen images. Using a mouse, the subject positioned the cursor over the small vertical box ("slider") and clicked on it to move it left or right on a scale of 0-100. To register the response, the subject then pressed the "OK" button that appeared below the horizontal line. A score of '0' represented 'Definitely not' and a score of '100' represented 'Definitely so'.

Time frame: 24 hours

Drug Familiarity VAS score (Hour 12 during each Treatment Visit)

Drug familiarity score was determined by asking a general question "How familiar was the effect of the drug you most recently received?" Subjects scored familiarity on a VAS scale from 0-100 where 0 was 'Very unfamiliar' and 100 was 'Very familiar'.

Time frame: 12 hours

Drug Similarity VAS score (Hour 12 during each Treatment Visit)

Drug similarity scores were determined by asking 'How similar is the drug you most recently received to \[each of a specific drug from a customized list of drugs to which the subject was familiar\]?". Subjects scored similarity for each drug on a VAS scale from 0-100 where 0 was 'Not at all similar' and 100 was 'Very similar'.

Time frame: 12 hours