Cocaine Use Disorder
Conditions
Keywords
Cocaine use, Exenatide, Cocaine treatment
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to collect information about whether exenatide (Bydureon) may be safe and helpful as a medication treatment for individuals who want to stop using cocaine. Although exenatide (Bydureon) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, it has not been approved by the FDA to treat cocaine use; therefore, it is called an investigational drug.
Detailed description
Cocaine use continues to be a significant public health problem with limited treatment options and no approved pharmacotherapies. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptors are located in brain areas important for reward and, as such, appear to play a significant role in modulating addictive-like behaviors and drug use (Eren-Yazicioglu et al. 2020). Extended-release exenatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In preclinical studies, exenatide reduces cocaine-seeking and cocaine-taking behavior (Brunchmann et al. 2019). The effect of extended-release exenatide on cocaine use in patients with a cocaine use disorder (CUD) has not yet been investigated. A series of four case studies are being proposed to collect preliminary data on the feasibility, safety, and clinical effects of exenatide in treatment-seeking patients with CUD. The U.S. is facing a re-emergence of cocaine as an epidemic drug, indicated by increases in availability, use, and overdose deaths following a previous period of decline (Maxwell 2020). Although significant strides have been made in medication development for the treatment of cocaine use disorder (CUD), no FDA-approved pharmacotherapies are currently available. NIDA's current strategic plan prioritizes efforts to accelerate CUD medication development by rigorously testing novel molecular targets based on a translational research approach. Emerging evidence supports the potential clinical utility of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor stimulation for the treatment of substance use disorders, including CUD. GLP-1 is an incretin hormone that promotes insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Current evidence shows that GLP-1 receptors are widely expressed in areas of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway where they regulate the rewarding value of food and drugs of abuse, including cocaine. Preclinical literature suggests that activation of GLP-1 receptors reduces the rewarding effects of cocaine and cocaine self-administration (e.g., Hernandez et al. 2018; Hernandez et al. 2019). In the human laboratory, acute cocaine administration decreases GLP-1 concentrations, with changes associated with subjective reinforcing responses to cocaine (feeling high, anxious) (Bouhlal et al. 2017). Thus, there is compelling evidence to hypothesize that exenatide treatment will decrease cocaine use in individuals with CUD. In preparation for conducting a full-scale efficacy trial, the goal of the current proposal is to collect preliminary feasibility, safety, and clinical data on the effects of exenatide in series of four case studies.
Interventions
Exenatide will be purchased commercially as Bydureon® for subcutaneous (SC) injection and administered at a dose of 2 mg once a week for a total of 6 weeks. Each single-dose, dual-chamber pen contains 0.65 mg of diluent and 2 mg of exenatide, which remains isolated until mixed.
BEHAVIORALDrug Counseling
Once weekly drug counseling sessions for cocaine use with trained masters-level therapists.
Sponsors
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Case series design run as a single-arm open-label pilot
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* between 18 and 60 years of age. * meet DSM-5 criteria for current cocaine use disorder as measured by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID). * have at least 1 cocaine-positive urine specimen (≥ 150 ng/mL) during intake. * be in acceptable health on the basis of interview, medical history and physical exam. * have hematology and chemistry laboratory tests that are within reference limits (±10%), with the following exception: pancreatic tests (lipase and amylase) must be within normal limits. * consent to use an acceptable method of birth control during study participation and for one month after discontinuation of the study medication. Non-hormonal methods of contraception are recommended, including barrier contraceptives (e.g., diaphragm, cervical cap, male condom) or intrauterine device (IUD). Steroid contraceptives if used with non-hormonal methods are acceptable. * be able to understand the consent form and provide written informed consent. * be able to provide the names of at least 2 persons who can generally locate their whereabouts.
Exclusion criteria
* current DSM-5 diagnosis for substance use disorder (of at least moderate severity) other than cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, or nicotine. * current alcohol use that meets for physiological dependence requiring detoxification or makes participation medically unsafe as determined by the medical director. * have a DSM-5 axis I psychiatric disorder, or anorexia nervosa, or neurological disease or disorder requiring ongoing treatment and/or making study participation unsafe (e.g., psychosis, dementia). * significant current suicidal or homicidal ideation. * Type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus (previously diagnosed or indicated by HbA1C level of ≥6.5%). * have medical conditions contraindicating exenatide pharmacotherapy (e.g., personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, severe gastrointestinal disease (severe gastroparesis), previous history of pancreatitis or risk of pancreatitis, creatinine clearance \<45 or end stage renal disease, previous medically adverse reaction to exenatide or other GLP-1 receptor agonists). * taking medications that could adversely interact with exenatide (e.g., oral or injectable blood glucose lowering medications). * having conditions of probation or parole requiring reports of drug use to officers of the court. * impending incarceration. * pregnant or nursing for female patients.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Completed Treatment | Week 6 | Treatment completion will be assessed by attendance at the end-of-treatment timepoint. |
| Drug Safety as Assessed by Total Number of Adverse Events Reported During Treatment | From Week 1 to Week 6 | Adverse events (AEs) will be reported to study nurse during the course of treatment. |
| Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Cocaine Use During Treatment as Indicated by Number of Participants With Cocaine-positive Urine Drug Screen Results | From Week 1 to Week 6 | Urine drug screens were performed weekly. For a cocaine-negative urine drug screen result, benzoylecgonine levels must be under 300 ng/mL. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility as Indicated by Overall Acceptability as Reported on the Satisfaction Survey | Week 6 | The Satisfaction Survey includes a 9-point likert scale that ranges from 1 to 9, with a higher score indicating greater acceptability. |
| Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Self-reported Cocaine Use on 50% or More Days of the Week | From Week 1 to Week 6 | Timeline Followback (TLFB) administered once weekly. |
| Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Indicated by Number of Participants Who Reported a Reduction in Craving by Week 6 as Indicated by Cocaine Craving on the Brief Substance Craving Scale | From Week 0 to Week 6 | The brief substance craving scale (BSCS) is a 16-item, self-report instrument that assesses craving for cocaine and other substances of abuse over a 24 hour period. The domains of intensity, frequency, and duration are recorded on a five-point Likert scale. The range of scores for each domain is 0 to 4, and the total score is the sum of all three domains. The total score range is 0 to 12, and higher scores indicate higher craving (worse outcome.) |
| Feasibility as Assessed by Number of Participants Enrolled | Week 0 | Enrollment will be assessed by the number of participants signing the informed consent. |
| Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Were Below the Clinical Range for Depression by Week 6 as Indicated by the Beck Depression Inventory | Week 6 | The Beck Depression Inventory score ranges from 0 to 63, with a higher score indicating greater depressive symptoms. The scores from each timepoint will be plotted as a trend line. |
| Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Indicated by Number of Participants Who Had an Increase in Positive Affect Symptoms by Week 6 as Indicated on the Positive/Negative Affect Schedule | From Week 0 to Week 6 | The Positive/Negative Affect Schedule is a 20-item questionnaire divided into 10 positive affect items and 10 negative affect items. The score for the positive affect items ranges from 10 to 50, with a higher score indicating higher levels of positive affect. The scores from each timepoint will be plotted as a trend line. |
| Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Indicated by Number of Participants Who Had a Decrease in Negative Affect Symptoms Indicated on the Positive/Negative Affect Schedule | From Week 0 to Week 6 | The Positive/Negative Affect Schedule is a 20-item questionnaire divided into 10 positive affect items and 10 negative affect items. The score for the negative affect items ranges from 10 to 50, with a lower score indicating lower levels of negative affect. The scores from each timepoint will be plotted as a trend line. |
| Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Had a Decrease in Drug Demand by Week 6 | From Week 0 to Week 6 | Drug demand will be measured by the computerized Cocaine Purchasing Task (CPT). The CPT asks participants how much cocaine they would purchase at the beginning of a hypothetical day as the cost of cocaine increases from $0 to $1,000. The CPT simulates changes in price and consumption of drug in order to assess demand curves associated with drug consumption. The CPT will assess both cocaine reward value as well as motivation to consume cocaine. |
| Feasibility as Assessed by Number of Study Visits Attended | From Week 1 to Week 6 | There were 6 study visits planned. |
| Feasibility as Assessed by Retention as Indicated by Total Number of Completed Study Visits | From Week 1 to Week 6 | Retention will be assessed by the total number of completed study visits. A completed study visit is a visit in which the participant attended and received the study treatment. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling Participants will receive once weekly exenatide injections and drug counseling sessions.
Exenatide 2 mg \[Bydureon\]: Exenatide will be purchased commercially as Bydureon® for subcutaneous (SC) injection and administered at a dose of 2 mg once a week for a total of 6 weeks. Each single-dose, dual-chamber pen contains 0.65 mg of diluent and 2 mg of exenatide, which remains isolated until mixed.
Drug Counseling: Once weekly drug counseling sessions for cocaine use with trained masters-level therapists. | 3 |
| Total | 3 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Exenatide and Drug Counseling |
|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 50.33 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.08 |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Hispanic or Latino | 1 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Not Hispanic or Latino | 2 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants |
| number of days of use of cocaine in the past 30 days | 18 days STANDARD_DEVIATION 7 |
| number of days use of alcohol in the past 30 days | 8 days STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.29 |
| number of days use of marijuana in the past 30 days | 8.33 days STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.21 |
| Number of Years of Education | 13.00 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.6 |
| number of years use of alcohol | 9.33 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.38 |
| number of years use of cocaine | 17 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 13.52 |
| number of years use of Marijuana | 3.33 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.77 |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 2 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 1 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 3 participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 1 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 2 Participants |
| Tobacco Dependency assessed by the Fagerstrom Test High Dependence | 1 Participants |
| Tobacco Dependency assessed by the Fagerstrom Test Low Dependence | 0 Participants |
| Tobacco Dependency assessed by the Fagerstrom Test Medium Dependence | 1 Participants |
| Tobacco Dependency assessed by the Fagerstrom Test Very High Dependence | 0 Participants |
| Tobacco Dependency assessed by the Fagerstrom Test Very Low Dependence | 1 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk |
|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 3 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 2 / 3 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 1 / 3 |
Outcome results
Primary
Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Cocaine Use During Treatment as Indicated by Number of Participants With Cocaine-positive Urine Drug Screen Results
Urine drug screens were performed weekly. For a cocaine-negative urine drug screen result, benzoylecgonine levels must be under 300 ng/mL.
Time frame: From Week 1 to Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Cocaine Use During Treatment as Indicated by Number of Participants With Cocaine-positive Urine Drug Screen Results | week 3 | 3 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Cocaine Use During Treatment as Indicated by Number of Participants With Cocaine-positive Urine Drug Screen Results | week 4 | 2 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Cocaine Use During Treatment as Indicated by Number of Participants With Cocaine-positive Urine Drug Screen Results | week 5 | 2 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Cocaine Use During Treatment as Indicated by Number of Participants With Cocaine-positive Urine Drug Screen Results | week 6 | 2 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Cocaine Use During Treatment as Indicated by Number of Participants With Cocaine-positive Urine Drug Screen Results | week 1 | 3 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Cocaine Use During Treatment as Indicated by Number of Participants With Cocaine-positive Urine Drug Screen Results | week 2 | 3 Participants |
Primary
Drug Safety as Assessed by Total Number of Adverse Events Reported During Treatment
Adverse events (AEs) will be reported to study nurse during the course of treatment.
Time frame: From Week 1 to Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Drug Safety as Assessed by Total Number of Adverse Events Reported During Treatment | 7 adverse events |
Primary
Feasibility as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Completed Treatment
Treatment completion will be assessed by attendance at the end-of-treatment timepoint.
Time frame: Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Feasibility as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Completed Treatment | 3 Participants |
Secondary
Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Had a Decrease in Drug Demand by Week 6
Drug demand will be measured by the computerized Cocaine Purchasing Task (CPT). The CPT asks participants how much cocaine they would purchase at the beginning of a hypothetical day as the cost of cocaine increases from $0 to $1,000. The CPT simulates changes in price and consumption of drug in order to assess demand curves associated with drug consumption. The CPT will assess both cocaine reward value as well as motivation to consume cocaine.
Time frame: From Week 0 to Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Had a Decrease in Drug Demand by Week 6 | 1 Participants |
Secondary
Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Self-reported Cocaine Use on 50% or More Days of the Week
Timeline Followback (TLFB) administered once weekly.
Time frame: From Week 1 to Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Self-reported Cocaine Use on 50% or More Days of the Week | week 1 | 2 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Self-reported Cocaine Use on 50% or More Days of the Week | week 2 | 2 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Self-reported Cocaine Use on 50% or More Days of the Week | week 3 | 1 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Self-reported Cocaine Use on 50% or More Days of the Week | week 4 | 2 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Self-reported Cocaine Use on 50% or More Days of the Week | week 5 | 1 Participants |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Self-reported Cocaine Use on 50% or More Days of the Week | week 6 | 2 Participants |
Secondary
Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Were Below the Clinical Range for Depression by Week 6 as Indicated by the Beck Depression Inventory
The Beck Depression Inventory score ranges from 0 to 63, with a higher score indicating greater depressive symptoms. The scores from each timepoint will be plotted as a trend line.
Time frame: Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Assessed by Number of Participants Who Were Below the Clinical Range for Depression by Week 6 as Indicated by the Beck Depression Inventory | 3 Participants |
Secondary
Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Indicated by Number of Participants Who Had a Decrease in Negative Affect Symptoms Indicated on the Positive/Negative Affect Schedule
The Positive/Negative Affect Schedule is a 20-item questionnaire divided into 10 positive affect items and 10 negative affect items. The score for the negative affect items ranges from 10 to 50, with a lower score indicating lower levels of negative affect. The scores from each timepoint will be plotted as a trend line.
Time frame: From Week 0 to Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Indicated by Number of Participants Who Had a Decrease in Negative Affect Symptoms Indicated on the Positive/Negative Affect Schedule | 1 Participants |
Secondary
Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Indicated by Number of Participants Who Had an Increase in Positive Affect Symptoms by Week 6 as Indicated on the Positive/Negative Affect Schedule
The Positive/Negative Affect Schedule is a 20-item questionnaire divided into 10 positive affect items and 10 negative affect items. The score for the positive affect items ranges from 10 to 50, with a higher score indicating higher levels of positive affect. The scores from each timepoint will be plotted as a trend line.
Time frame: From Week 0 to Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Indicated by Number of Participants Who Had an Increase in Positive Affect Symptoms by Week 6 as Indicated on the Positive/Negative Affect Schedule | 1 Participants |
Secondary
Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Indicated by Number of Participants Who Reported a Reduction in Craving by Week 6 as Indicated by Cocaine Craving on the Brief Substance Craving Scale
The brief substance craving scale (BSCS) is a 16-item, self-report instrument that assesses craving for cocaine and other substances of abuse over a 24 hour period. The domains of intensity, frequency, and duration are recorded on a five-point Likert scale. The range of scores for each domain is 0 to 4, and the total score is the sum of all three domains. The total score range is 0 to 12, and higher scores indicate higher craving (worse outcome.)
Time frame: From Week 0 to Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Clinical Effect of Exenatide as Indicated by Number of Participants Who Reported a Reduction in Craving by Week 6 as Indicated by Cocaine Craving on the Brief Substance Craving Scale | 2 Participants |
Secondary
Feasibility as Assessed by Number of Participants Enrolled
Enrollment will be assessed by the number of participants signing the informed consent.
Time frame: Week 0
| Arm | Measure | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Feasibility as Assessed by Number of Participants Enrolled | 3 Participants |
Secondary
Feasibility as Assessed by Number of Study Visits Attended
There were 6 study visits planned.
Time frame: From Week 1 to Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Feasibility as Assessed by Number of Study Visits Attended | 6 study visits | Standard Deviation 0 |
Secondary
Feasibility as Assessed by Retention as Indicated by Total Number of Completed Study Visits
Retention will be assessed by the total number of completed study visits. A completed study visit is a visit in which the participant attended and received the study treatment.
Time frame: From Week 1 to Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Feasibility as Assessed by Retention as Indicated by Total Number of Completed Study Visits | 6 completed study visits | Standard Deviation 0 |
Secondary
Feasibility as Indicated by Overall Acceptability as Reported on the Satisfaction Survey
The Satisfaction Survey includes a 9-point likert scale that ranges from 1 to 9, with a higher score indicating greater acceptability.
Time frame: Week 6
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Feasibility as Indicated by Overall Acceptability as Reported on the Satisfaction Survey | treatment helpfulness | 7.66 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 1.52 |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Feasibility as Indicated by Overall Acceptability as Reported on the Satisfaction Survey | treatment usefulness | 6.00 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 3 |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Feasibility as Indicated by Overall Acceptability as Reported on the Satisfaction Survey | likelihood of treatment recommendation | 7.33 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 2.88 |
| Exenatide and Drug Counseling | Feasibility as Indicated by Overall Acceptability as Reported on the Satisfaction Survey | desire to continue treatment | 7.33 score on a scale | Standard Deviation 2.08 |