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Brain Mechanisms of Pharmacotherapy in Opioid Use Disorder

Brain Mechanisms of Cognitive Response to Pharmacotherapy in Opioid Use Disorder

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04454411
Enrollment
3
Registered
2020-07-01
Start date
2022-08-01
Completion date
2024-08-31
Last updated
2025-08-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Opioid Dependence

Keywords

naltrexone, buprenorphine, neuroimaging

Brief summary

This study will investigate the mechanisms of cognitive-behavioral response to medications used for relapse prevention in opioid use disorder (opioid addiction, OUD), through investigation of the neural circuits underlying key cognition functions. The study will use previously validated cognitive probes, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), and novel extended-release injectable preparations of opioid partial agonist buprenorphine and antagonist naltrexone, in OUD patients to explain the individual heterogeneity of OUD treatment response.

Detailed description

This proposal seeks to identify the neural circuits underlying the cognitive effects of medication assisted therapy (MAT) for OUD. The study will examine the neurocognitive effects of MAT by comparing two preparations with different pharmacodynamic properties (extended release buprenorphine and naltrexone, XRBUP, XRNTX) in three key domains (incentive salience, executive functioning, and emotion processing) using task functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In the 1st phase of the study, forty treatment-seeking OUD patients will be randomized to XRNTX or XRBUP groups after detoxification. Participants will undergo medication induction followed by monthly injections and urine toxicology monitoring for 120 days. Neuroimaging will follow completion of detoxification (pre-treatment) and 15 days after the second injection (on-treatment). The second study phase will extend the paradigm to an independent sample of 160 additional participants and test the explanatory value of MAT-induced changes in the neuroimaging signal in the classification of OUD treatment outcomes.

Interventions

DRUGBrixadi

Extended release injectable Buprenorphine

Extended release injectable Naltrexone

Sponsors

University of Pennsylvania
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Males and Females 2. 18-65 Years old 3. OUD by DSM5 Criteria, confirmed by history and physical examination including urine toxicology, medical records and self-report 4. Opioids are the drug of choice 5. Interested in injectable extended release agonist or antagonist treatment 6. Have a stable address, working command of English language, and telephone access. 7. Women of childbearing age must use an effective contraceptive

Exclusion criteria

1. Psychiatric Co-morbidities: 1. Lifetime diagnoses of any psychotic disorder, e.g. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder type 1. 2. Psychiatric Co-morbidities: Psychiatric disorders requiring current medication treatment, e.g. moderate to severe depression. Mild to moderate Depressive and Anxiety disorders and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder that do not require prescription stimulants and DSM5 Cluster B and C personality disorders are also allowed. 3. Polysubstance users whose drug of choice is not opioids. 2. Contraindications for XRNTX or XRBUP e.g. active liver disease. 3. Medical and surgical conditions such as malignancy that may affect patients' ability to receive XRNTX or XRBUP treatment because it may interfere with opioid analgesia 4. Contraindications for MRI, e.g. claustrophobia, indwelling foreign magnetic agents.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
fMRI Signalup to 90 daysBrain fMRI response to neurocognitive probes
Urine Toxicology: OpioidThrough the study completion, up to 120 daysRapid semi-quantitative ELISA urine drug screen test for morphine, oxycodone and methadone, followed by (cut off levels): Methadone (MTD) Methadone 300 ng/mL Opiates (OPI 300) Morphine Morphine \*\*300 ng/mL Oxycodone (OXY) Oxycodone 100 ng/mL

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
AnxietyThrough the study completion, up to 120 daysHamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) (Hamilton, 1967). The HAM-A is a 15-minute, 14-item, clinician-administered instrument that measures current anxiety and changes in anxiety symptoms. Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where \<17 indicates mild severity, 18-24 mild to moderate severity and 25-30 moderate to severe.
DepressionThrough the study completion, up to 120 daysHamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) (Hamilton, 1959 #2497). The HAM-D is a 20-minute, 24-item interview that measures the severity of depression and changes in depressive symptoms. HAM-D form includes 21 items, however the scoring is based on the first 17. Eight items are scored on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 = not present to 4 = severe. Nine are scored from 0-2. The HAM-D score level corresponds to the clinical severity of depression as follows: 10 - 13 mild; 14-17 mild to moderate; \>17 moderate to severe.
Non-opioid Urine ToxicologyThrough the study completion, up to 120 daysRapid semi-quantitative ELISA urine drug screen test for amphetamine/methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, cocaine, phencyclidine, cannabinoids and cotinine, with cut off levels: Amphetamine/Methamphetamine 500/1000ng/ml Benzodiazepines Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) 200 ng/mL Cocaine Metabolite (Benzoylecgonine) EIA 150/300 ng/mL Cotinine EIA 250 ng/mL Phencyclidine EIA 25 ng/mL THC (Cannabinoids) EIA 20/50 ng/mL\*

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

143 individuals contacted the study staff expressing interest in phone screening. Of these, 28 individuals completed phone screening and three were eligible for the study and consented. One of the consented individuals was later excluded due to risk of metal fragments in the body. Two participants were lost to follow-up prior to randomization.

Pre-assignment details

One of the consented individuals was later excluded due to risk of metal fragments in the body. Two participants were lost to follow-up prior to randomization.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Buprenorphine
Participants assigned to treatment with extended-release buprenorphine Brixadi: Extended release injectable Buprenorphine
0
Naltrexone
Participants assigned to treatment with extended-release naltrexone Vivitrol: Extended release injectable Naltrexone
0
Total0

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 00 / 0
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 00 / 0
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 00 / 0

Outcome results

Primary

fMRI Signal

Brain fMRI response to neurocognitive probes

Time frame: up to 90 days

Population: 143 individuals contacted the study staff expressing interest in phone screening. Of these, 28 individuals completed phone screening and three were eligible for the study and consented. One of the consented individuals was later excluded due to risk of metal fragments in the body. Two participants were lost to follow-up prior to randomization.

Primary

Urine Toxicology: Opioid

Rapid semi-quantitative ELISA urine drug screen test for morphine, oxycodone and methadone, followed by (cut off levels): Methadone (MTD) Methadone 300 ng/mL Opiates (OPI 300) Morphine Morphine \*\*300 ng/mL Oxycodone (OXY) Oxycodone 100 ng/mL

Time frame: Through the study completion, up to 120 days

Population: 143 individuals contacted the study staff expressing interest in phone screening. Of these, 28 individuals completed phone screening and three were eligible for the study and consented. One of the consented individuals was later excluded due to risk of metal fragments in the body. Two participants were lost to follow-up prior to randomization.

Secondary

Anxiety

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) (Hamilton, 1967). The HAM-A is a 15-minute, 14-item, clinician-administered instrument that measures current anxiety and changes in anxiety symptoms. Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where \<17 indicates mild severity, 18-24 mild to moderate severity and 25-30 moderate to severe.

Time frame: Through the study completion, up to 120 days

Population: 143 individuals contacted the study staff expressing interest in phone screening. Of these, 28 individuals completed phone screening and three were eligible for the study and consented. One of the consented individuals was later excluded due to risk of metal fragments in the body. Two participants were lost to follow-up prior to randomization.

Secondary

Depression

Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) (Hamilton, 1959 #2497). The HAM-D is a 20-minute, 24-item interview that measures the severity of depression and changes in depressive symptoms. HAM-D form includes 21 items, however the scoring is based on the first 17. Eight items are scored on a 5-point scale, ranging from 0 = not present to 4 = severe. Nine are scored from 0-2. The HAM-D score level corresponds to the clinical severity of depression as follows: 10 - 13 mild; 14-17 mild to moderate; \>17 moderate to severe.

Time frame: Through the study completion, up to 120 days

Population: 143 individuals contacted the study staff expressing interest in phone screening. Of these, 28 individuals completed phone screening and three were eligible for the study and consented. One of the consented individuals was later excluded due to risk of metal fragments in the body. Two participants were lost to follow-up prior to randomization.

Secondary

Non-opioid Urine Toxicology

Rapid semi-quantitative ELISA urine drug screen test for amphetamine/methamphetamine, benzodiazepines, cocaine, phencyclidine, cannabinoids and cotinine, with cut off levels: Amphetamine/Methamphetamine 500/1000ng/ml Benzodiazepines Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) 200 ng/mL Cocaine Metabolite (Benzoylecgonine) EIA 150/300 ng/mL Cotinine EIA 250 ng/mL Phencyclidine EIA 25 ng/mL THC (Cannabinoids) EIA 20/50 ng/mL\*

Time frame: Through the study completion, up to 120 days

Population: 143 individuals contacted the study staff expressing interest in phone screening. Of these, 28 individuals completed phone screening and three were eligible for the study and consented. One of the consented individuals was later excluded due to risk of metal fragments in the body. Two participants were lost to follow-up prior to randomization.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026