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A Phase II Trial of Varenicline for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence

Primary Purpose

Cocaine Dependence

Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Varenicline
Placebo
Sponsored by
University of Pennsylvania
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Cocaine Dependence focused on measuring Cocaine dependence

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Males and females, 18 to 65 years old.
  2. Meets DSM-IV criteria for Cocaine Dependence, as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID).
  3. Live within a commutable distance of the Treatment Research Center (TRC) at the Penn/VA Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania. We define this to be a distance within the service area of Septa, within an hour drive, or a distance that both the patient and Principal Investigator (PI) find acceptable.
  4. Understands and signs the informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Current DSM-IV diagnosis of any psychoactive substance dependence other than cocaine, alcohol, or nicotine dependence, as determined by the SCID.
  2. Subject is, in the investigator's opinion, at risk of requiring medical detoxification for alcohol dependence during the study.
  3. Concomitant treatment with psychotropic medications.
  4. Current gambling problems. This will be assessed by the patient's self-report.
  5. Patients mandated to treatment based upon a legal decision or as a condition of employment who will use participation in this study to fulfill to their court mandated treatment requirement.This will be assessed by the patient's self-report.
  6. Current severe psychiatric symptoms, e.g., psychosis, dementia, suicidal or homicidal ideation, mania or depression requiring antidepressant therapy in the opinion of the Principal Investigator (PI).
  7. Use of any investigational medication within the past 30 days.
  8. Subject has serious heart, lung, kidney, immune system, GI tract (ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, or gastrointestinal bleeding) disease.
  9. Current use of naltrexone, disulfiram, modafinil, stimulants, haloperidol, benzodiazepines or anticonvulsants.
  10. Known hypersensitivity to varenicline.
  11. Patients with known AIDS or other serious illnesses that may require hospitalization during the study.
  12. Female subjects who are pregnant or lactating, or female subjects of child-bearing potential who are not using acceptable methods of birth control. Acceptable methods of birth control include:

    1. barrier (diaphragm or condom) with spermicide
    2. intrauterine progesterone contraceptive system
    3. levonorgestrel implant
    4. medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive injection
    5. oral contraceptives
    6. tubal ligation.
  13. Patients with impaired renal function as indicated by corrected creatinine clearance below 60 ml/min as determined by the modified Cockcroft equation (CDC, 1986).
  14. Clinical laboratory tests (CBC, blood chemistries, urinalysis) outside normal limits that are clinically unacceptable to the Medical Director. EKG 1st degree heart block, sinus tachycardia, left axis deviation, and nonspecific ST or T wave changes are allowed; liver function tests [LFTs] <5 x ULN are acceptable).

Sites / Locations

  • University of Pennsylvania Treatment Research Center

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Placebo Comparator

Arm Label

Varenicline

Placebo

Arm Description

Oral 1.0 mg BID.

Oral 1.0 mg BID.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Number of Participants Who Report no Cocaine Use and Have no Cocaine Positive Urine Drug Screens in the Chantix Group Versus the Placebo Group Comparator During the Last Three Weeks of the Trial
Number of subjects with cocaine abstinence as measured through three-times-weekly urine benzoylecgonine (BE) levels in urine drug screen (UDS) and self-reports of use from the Time Line Follow Back. UDS results and TLFB reports combined to yield weekly use/no-use indicators for each week of treatment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Average Weekly Cocaine Craving Scores Varenicline Group Versus the Placebo Group Comparator
As measured by average weekly scores for cocaine craving on the brief substance craving scale combining cocaine craving frequency, intensity and duration. Minimum value 0 maximum value 12 higher scores indicate worse craving.

Full Information

First Posted
August 28, 2012
Last Updated
July 18, 2019
Sponsor
University of Pennsylvania
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT01680887
Brief Title
A Phase II Trial of Varenicline for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence
Official Title
A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of Varenicline for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
July 2019
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
August 2012 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
January 2018 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
June 2019 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
University of Pennsylvania

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
This is a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial (n = 156) of varenicline for the treatment of cocaine dependence that utilizes contingency management to promote treatment attendance.
Detailed Description
Background: Varenicline is a medication approved for the treatment of Tobacco Use Disorder. It is a partial agonist at α2β4 nicotinic acetyl choline receptors and a full agonist at α7 nicotinic acetyl choline receptors. By its effects on cholinergic activity at α7 and α2β4 receptors, varenicline may reduce dopaminergic and glutamatergic activity in the midbrain, and reduce symptoms of Cocaine Use Disorder. A preliminary trial of varenicline in human cocaine users suggested that varenicline treatment was associated with reductions in cocaine use. The current trial was intended to confirm these promising preliminary results. Methods: This was a 12-week, double blind, placebo controlled parallel group clinical trial involving 156 DSM IV cocaine dependent subjects. Subjects received 2 mg of varenicline or identical placebo each day along with weekly individual cognitive behavioral relapse prevention psychotherapy. The primary outcome measure was cocaine use measured by by thrice weekly urine drug screens. Additional outcome measures included cocaine withdrawal symptoms measured by the Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment (CSSA) End of study cocaine abstinence was analyzed using a Chi-square test.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Cocaine Dependence
Keywords
Cocaine dependence

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
ParticipantCare ProviderInvestigatorOutcomes Assessor
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
156 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Varenicline
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Oral 1.0 mg BID.
Arm Title
Placebo
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
Oral 1.0 mg BID.
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Varenicline
Other Intervention Name(s)
Chantix
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Placebo
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Number of Participants Who Report no Cocaine Use and Have no Cocaine Positive Urine Drug Screens in the Chantix Group Versus the Placebo Group Comparator During the Last Three Weeks of the Trial
Description
Number of subjects with cocaine abstinence as measured through three-times-weekly urine benzoylecgonine (BE) levels in urine drug screen (UDS) and self-reports of use from the Time Line Follow Back. UDS results and TLFB reports combined to yield weekly use/no-use indicators for each week of treatment.
Time Frame
weeks 11,12,13 of the trial
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Average Weekly Cocaine Craving Scores Varenicline Group Versus the Placebo Group Comparator
Description
As measured by average weekly scores for cocaine craving on the brief substance craving scale combining cocaine craving frequency, intensity and duration. Minimum value 0 maximum value 12 higher scores indicate worse craving.
Time Frame
Once per week in weeks 2 through 13

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
65 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Males and females, 18 to 65 years old. Meets DSM-IV criteria for Cocaine Dependence, as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Live within a commutable distance of the Treatment Research Center (TRC) at the Penn/VA Center for Studies of Addiction, University of Pennsylvania. We define this to be a distance within the service area of Septa, within an hour drive, or a distance that both the patient and Principal Investigator (PI) find acceptable. Understands and signs the informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: Current DSM-IV diagnosis of any psychoactive substance dependence other than cocaine, alcohol, or nicotine dependence, as determined by the SCID. Subject is, in the investigator's opinion, at risk of requiring medical detoxification for alcohol dependence during the study. Concomitant treatment with psychotropic medications. Current gambling problems. This will be assessed by the patient's self-report. Patients mandated to treatment based upon a legal decision or as a condition of employment who will use participation in this study to fulfill to their court mandated treatment requirement.This will be assessed by the patient's self-report. Current severe psychiatric symptoms, e.g., psychosis, dementia, suicidal or homicidal ideation, mania or depression requiring antidepressant therapy in the opinion of the Principal Investigator (PI). Use of any investigational medication within the past 30 days. Subject has serious heart, lung, kidney, immune system, GI tract (ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis, or gastrointestinal bleeding) disease. Current use of naltrexone, disulfiram, modafinil, stimulants, haloperidol, benzodiazepines or anticonvulsants. Known hypersensitivity to varenicline. Patients with known AIDS or other serious illnesses that may require hospitalization during the study. Female subjects who are pregnant or lactating, or female subjects of child-bearing potential who are not using acceptable methods of birth control. Acceptable methods of birth control include: barrier (diaphragm or condom) with spermicide intrauterine progesterone contraceptive system levonorgestrel implant medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive injection oral contraceptives tubal ligation. Patients with impaired renal function as indicated by corrected creatinine clearance below 60 ml/min as determined by the modified Cockcroft equation (CDC, 1986). Clinical laboratory tests (CBC, blood chemistries, urinalysis) outside normal limits that are clinically unacceptable to the Medical Director. EKG 1st degree heart block, sinus tachycardia, left axis deviation, and nonspecific ST or T wave changes are allowed; liver function tests [LFTs] <5 x ULN are acceptable).
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Kyle M Kampman, MD
Organizational Affiliation
University of Pennsylvania
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
University of Pennsylvania Treatment Research Center
City
Philadelphia
State/Province
Pennsylvania
ZIP/Postal Code
19104
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No
Links:
URL
http://www.med.upenn.edu/csa/
Description
University of Pennsylvania Center for Studies of Addictions

Learn more about this trial

A Phase II Trial of Varenicline for the Treatment of Cocaine Dependence

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