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UH3 Varenicline for Cannabis Use Disorder

Primary Purpose

Cannabis Use Disorder

Status
Active
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Varenicline
Placebo
Sponsored by
Medical University of South Carolina
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Cannabis Use Disorder focused on measuring marijuana, substance use

Eligibility Criteria

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

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Must meet DSM-5 criteria for cannabis use disorder and use cannabis at least 3 days per week in the last 30 days.
  • Express interest in receiving treatment for cannabis use disorder and reducing use.
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • If female and of childbearing potential, must agree to use acceptable methods of birth control for the duration of the trial.
  • Must consent to random assignment, and be willing to commit to medication ingestion.
  • Must be able to read and provide informed consent.
  • Must have body weight >110lbs (50kg) and have BMI between 18 and 35kg/m2
  • Must function at an intellectual level and have knowledge of the English language to sufficiently allow for accurate completion of assessments.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Women who are pregnant, nursing, or plan to become pregnant during the course of the study.
  • Individuals with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 30 mL per minute).
  • Lifetime history of DSM-5 Bipolar I or II Disorder, Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder. Stably treated MDD, Dysthymia, GAD, Social Phobia, and Specific Phobia diagnoses are acceptable (i.e. same dose of medication has been prescribed for at least 2 months prior to screening and no changes in current medication expected during course of the trial).
  • Past year or current posttraumatic stress disorder.
  • Subjects who are actively suicidal, or who report suicidal ideation (SI) with intent or plan in the past year.
  • Subjects who have a SBQ R total score ≥8, or for whom the investigator judges that a risk assessment by a qualified medical professional is required. Subjects answering 'yes' on questions 4 or 5 of C-SSRS will be referred to assessment by a qualified mental health professional.
  • Suicidal behavior within the past 10 years or a lifetime history of serious or recurrent suicidal behavior.
  • Concomitant use of psychotropic medications, with the exception of stable doses (defined as no dosing adjustments in the past two months) of non-MAO-I antidepressants, non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics, and ADHD medications.
  • Current use of medications prescribed for mania or psychosis.
  • Current use of buproprion or nortryptiline.
  • Moderate or severe non-cannabis substance use disorders within the past 60 days with the exception of tobacco use disorder.
  • Past year or current moderate or severe alcohol use disorder.
  • Individuals taking an investigational agent within the last 30 days before baseline visit.
  • Individuals with clinically significant medical disorders or lab abnormalities.
  • Any individual at screening with SGOT (AST) or SGPT (ALT) greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal and/or total bilirubin greater than two times the upper limit of normal.
  • Individuals with clinically significant cardiovascular disease in the past 6 months (e.g., myocardial infarction, CABG, PTCA, severe or unstable angina, serious arrhythmia, or any clinically significant ECG conduction abnormality.
  • Individuals with clinically significant cerebrovascular disease in the past 6 months such as TIA, CVA, or stroke.
  • Hypersensitivity to varenicline.
  • Individuals who have participated in the clinical trial of any investigative compound within the last 60 days
  • Individuals who are on probation or under a mandate to obtain treatment.
  • Individuals with plans to initiate or change frequency of attendance at self-help meetings (e.g. AA, NA).

Sites / Locations

  • Medical University of South Carolina
  • Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Placebo Comparator

Arm Label

Varenicline

Placebo

Arm Description

2 mg daily

2 mg daily

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Efficacy of varenicline, compared with placebo, for reducing cannabis use: total number of use sessions at each weekly visit
Cannabis use reduction as measured by daily substance use logs and examined as the total number of use sessions at each weekly visit.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Safety and tolerability of varenicline, compared with placebo, when used for cannabis use disorder: frequency of treatment-emergent AEs
Comparing the frequency of treatment-emergent AEs between treatment groups. Of particular interest will be AEs leading to medication discontinuation and the occurrence of treatment-related serious AEs.

Full Information

First Posted
June 6, 2019
Last Updated
July 25, 2023
Sponsor
Medical University of South Carolina
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03980561
Brief Title
UH3 Varenicline for Cannabis Use Disorder
Official Title
Varenicline for the Treatment of DSM 5 Cannabis Use Disorder in Adults
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
July 2023
Overall Recruitment Status
Active, not recruiting
Study Start Date
January 31, 2020 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
February 9, 2023 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
December 1, 2023 (Anticipated)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
Medical University of South Carolina

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
Yes
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Data Monitoring Committee
Yes

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug. There is high demand for effective interventions for cannabis use disorder, yet few specific treatments for have been developed. This study will evaluate the efficacy of varenicline for reducing marijuana use in people who use marijuana frequently.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Cannabis Use Disorder
Keywords
marijuana, substance use

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
ParticipantInvestigator
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
174 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Varenicline
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
2 mg daily
Arm Title
Placebo
Arm Type
Placebo Comparator
Arm Description
2 mg daily
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Varenicline
Other Intervention Name(s)
Chantix, Apo-Varenicline
Intervention Description
Active medication
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Placebo
Other Intervention Name(s)
Sugar pill
Intervention Description
Inactive medication
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Efficacy of varenicline, compared with placebo, for reducing cannabis use: total number of use sessions at each weekly visit
Description
Cannabis use reduction as measured by daily substance use logs and examined as the total number of use sessions at each weekly visit.
Time Frame
Treatment phase Weeks 6-12
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Safety and tolerability of varenicline, compared with placebo, when used for cannabis use disorder: frequency of treatment-emergent AEs
Description
Comparing the frequency of treatment-emergent AEs between treatment groups. Of particular interest will be AEs leading to medication discontinuation and the occurrence of treatment-related serious AEs.
Time Frame
12 weeks (across the active treatment period)

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Must meet DSM-5 criteria for cannabis use disorder and use cannabis at least 3 days per week in the last 30 days. Express interest in receiving treatment for cannabis use disorder and reducing use. Must be at least 18 years of age. If female and of childbearing potential, must agree to use acceptable methods of birth control for the duration of the trial. Must consent to random assignment, and be willing to commit to medication ingestion. Must be able to read and provide informed consent. Must have body weight >110lbs (50kg) and have BMI between 18 and 35kg/m2 Must function at an intellectual level and have knowledge of the English language to sufficiently allow for accurate completion of assessments. Exclusion Criteria: Women who are pregnant, nursing, or plan to become pregnant during the course of the study. Individuals with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 30 mL per minute). Lifetime history of DSM-5 Bipolar I or II Disorder, Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder. Stably treated MDD, Dysthymia, GAD, Social Phobia, and Specific Phobia diagnoses are acceptable (i.e. same dose of medication has been prescribed for at least 2 months prior to screening and no changes in current medication expected during course of the trial). Past year or current posttraumatic stress disorder. Subjects who are actively suicidal, or who report suicidal ideation (SI) with intent or plan in the past year. Subjects who have a SBQ R total score ≥8, or for whom the investigator judges that a risk assessment by a qualified medical professional is required. Subjects answering 'yes' on questions 4 or 5 of C-SSRS will be referred to assessment by a qualified mental health professional. Suicidal behavior within the past 10 years or a lifetime history of serious or recurrent suicidal behavior. Concomitant use of psychotropic medications, with the exception of stable doses (defined as no dosing adjustments in the past two months) of non-MAO-I antidepressants, non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics, and ADHD medications. Current use of medications prescribed for mania or psychosis. Current use of buproprion or nortryptiline. Moderate or severe non-cannabis substance use disorders within the past 60 days with the exception of tobacco use disorder. Past year or current moderate or severe alcohol use disorder. Individuals taking an investigational agent within the last 30 days before baseline visit. Individuals with clinically significant medical disorders or lab abnormalities. Any individual at screening with SGOT (AST) or SGPT (ALT) greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal and/or total bilirubin greater than two times the upper limit of normal. Individuals with clinically significant cardiovascular disease in the past 6 months (e.g., myocardial infarction, CABG, PTCA, severe or unstable angina, serious arrhythmia, or any clinically significant ECG conduction abnormality. Individuals with clinically significant cerebrovascular disease in the past 6 months such as TIA, CVA, or stroke. Hypersensitivity to varenicline. Individuals who have participated in the clinical trial of any investigative compound within the last 60 days Individuals who are on probation or under a mandate to obtain treatment. Individuals with plans to initiate or change frequency of attendance at self-help meetings (e.g. AA, NA).
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Aimee McRae-Clark, PharmD
Organizational Affiliation
Medical University of South Carolina
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Medical University of South Carolina
City
Charleston
State/Province
South Carolina
ZIP/Postal Code
29425
Country
United States
Facility Name
Behavioral Health Services of Pickens County
City
Pickens
State/Province
South Carolina
ZIP/Postal Code
29671
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No

Learn more about this trial

UH3 Varenicline for Cannabis Use Disorder

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