Effect of AEF0117 on Treatment-seeking Patients With Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD)

NCT05322941 | Completed Phase 2 DMC FDA Drug

• 1 other identifier: AEF0117-202
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 333
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 11

Brief Summary

Cannabis use is increasing and will only further escalate with legalization of recreational and medical cannabis use in western countries , with a prevalence greater than 30 % in the US and most European countries for individuals between 16 and 24 years of age. Approximately 9 % of those who use cannabis will become addicted. The number goes up to about 1 in 6 among those who start using cannabis as teenagers and to 25 to 50 % among those who smoke cannabis daily. The consequences of cannabis abuse in the most prone population (14-25 years of age) are extremely serious, and may include addiction, altered brain development, poorer educational outcomes, cognitive impairment, lower income, greater welfare dependence, unemployment and lower relationship and life satisfaction. There are no available pharmacological treatments of cannabis use disorder (CUD). Thus, the development of safe and effective medications for the treatment of CUD is an urgent public health priority. The preclinical efficacy and available ADMET (Administration, Distribution, Metabolism, Elimination and Toxicology) in animal and human data suggest that AEF0117, an investigational new study drug, could constitute a very efficacious and safe treatment for cannabis abuse disorders. The purpose of this research is to study how AEF0117 influences the subjective effects of cannabis in subjects with CUD. AEF0117 acts in the same parts of the brain as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient of marijuana, and may temporarily alter some of cannabis's effects. The safety and tolerability of AE0117 has been demonstrated in the clinical studies conducted to date. This study will provide additional data on the efficacy of AEF0117 on treatment-seeking subjects with moderate to severe CUD. This is a phase 2b, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-arm, parallel-group, prospective, multicenter study. The overall purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of AEF0117 in subjects with moderate to severe CUD who are treatment-seeking. The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate that AEF0117 induces a greater proportion of RESPONDERS (i.e., subjects with a RESPONSE of ≤1 day of cannabis use per week) compared to placebo in treatment-seeking subjects with moderate to severe CUD, according to DSM-5 criteria.The secondary objectives are to investigate the proportion of subjects that reach various levels of reduction and how this influences their quality of life, and to evaluate the safety and tolerability of AEF0117. And the exploratory objectives of this study are to further evaluate the effect of AEF0117 on pattern of cannabis use and change in various signs and symptoms, and in addition to assess effects during the grace period and the entire treatment period.

Conditions

Marijuana Abuse

Keywords

AEF0117; Cannabis-related Use Disorder; Cannabis subjective effects; Cannabis self-administration cannabis-induced analgesia; Cannabis-related cognitive disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Assessment of cannabis use

  Cannabis use will be assessed using self-reporting and monitored daily, prospectively by an EMA using a smartphone-based application

  up to 16 weeks (end of study)

• Assessment of cannabis use

  Cannabis use will be assessed using self-reporting and monitored daily, by using the TLFB procedure at each visit. The TLFB will be used to corroborate data obtained with EMA evaluation of cannabis use.

  up to 16 weeks (end of study)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Measures subject-rated intensity of withdrawal symptoms

  up to 16 weeks (end of study)

• Complete psychiatric diagnosis

  up to 16 weeks (end of study)

• Assesment of Quality of life

  up to 16 weeks (end of study)

Other Outcomes (4)

• Assessment of Marijuana Craving

  up to 16 weeks (end of study)

• Assessment of Quality of sleep

  up to 16 weeks (end of study)

• Assessment of severity of nicotine dependence

  up to 16 weeks (end of study)

Study Arms (2)

AEF0117

EXPERIMENTAL

The current study tests 3 doses of AEF0117 (1.0, 0.3, and 0.1 mg).AEF0117 capsules ; dose range 0.1 to 1.0mg by mouth, once a day for 12 weeks.

Drug: AEF0117

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

corn oil capsules once a day for 12 weeks.

Drug: Placebo oral capsule

Interventions

AEF0117 DRUG

AEF0117 (1.0, 0.3, and 0.1 mg) capsules

Also known as: 3ß-(4-methoxybenzyloxy)pregn-5-en-20-one

AEF0117

Placebo oral capsule DRUG

Corn oil capsule manufactured to mimic AEF0117 capsule

Also known as: Placebo

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Male or female subjects between 18 and 65 years old, both inclusive.
• Subjects must meet DSM-5 criteria for moderate to severe CUD as assessed by the standard MINI-5.
• Subjects must be treatment-seeking and have a mean cannabis use of ≥5 days per week within the last 4 weeks at the screening and baseline visit of the study. Mean cannabis use is assessed by the TLFB and a positive urine concentration test (creatinine-normalized \[THC-COOH\] ≥50 ng/mL).
• Subjects must use inhalation (i.e., smoking, vaping) consistently as the primary route of cannabis administration. Additional use of edible cannabis is allowed.
• Written informed consent to participate in the study.
• Body mass index (BMI) between ≥18 and \<35 kg/m2, inclusive, by Nomograph for BMI at screening.
• Female subjects of childbearing potential, defined as having a menstrual cycle that is confirmed prior to enrollment, and who are heterosexually active and not surgically sterile or at least 2 years postmenopausal, must agree to use one of the following forms of contraception throughout the study and until 21 days after the last dose of study drug: abstinence, hormonal (oral, transdermal, implant, or injection), barrier (condom, diaphragm with spermicide), intrauterine device, or vasectomized partner (6 months minimum).
• No clinically significant abnormal findings in the medical history, on physical examination, ECG, or clinical laboratory results (see Appendix B) during screening that could jeopardize the safety of the subject or impact the validity of the study.
• Subjects must agree to return to the study site as required, be able to read English, and be willing to comply with all required study procedures.

You may not qualify if:

• A history of clinically significant gastrointestinal, renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, endocrine, oncologic, pulmonary, immunologic, psychiatric, or cardiovascular disease, or any other condition which, in the opinion of the principal investigator, would jeopardize the safety of the subject or impact the validity of the study results. For psychiatric disease, see more details below.
• Subject has had significant traumatic injury, major surgery, or open biopsy within 30 days prior to the screening visit.
• Presence or history within 12 months prior to screening of other substance use disorders according to DSM-5 criteria (as assessed by the MINI-5, psychiatric assessment, urine drug screen, breath analyzer, as appropriate) except for mild alcohol use disorder (as defined in DSM-5) or tobacco use disorder. Current use (within 30 days prior to screening) of opioid agonist or antagonist.
• Subjects meeting DSM-5 criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective illness, or bipolar disorder. Subjects experiencing psychotic events which require psychiatric intervention or would interfere with study participation, apart from transient psychotic events due to substance abuse.
• Subjects diagnosed with major depression and with a severity score of \>17 based on HAM-D. Furthermore, subjects with other psychiatric disorders (excluding CUD) and with either a severity score at baseline of \>4 based on CGI for other psychiatric disorders, or who have not been stable for at least the last 3 months prior to screening with either behavioral treatment or unchanged medication and dose. Subjects with a current psychiatric disorder treated with prohibited medications .
• Subjects with a history of or current homicidal ideations or attempts.
• Subjects with any suicidal behavior or answering 'yes' to question 4 or 5 on suicidal ideation within the past 2 years based on the Baseline/Screening version of the C-SSRS. Subjects with any suicidal behavior or answering 'yes' to question 4 or 5 on suicidal ideation longer than 2 years ago based on the Baseline/Screening version of the C-SSRS and who, in the opinion of the principal investigator, could be at risk of jeopardizing his/her own safety during the study
• Subjects who use daily supplements of steroids (or food containing steroids), including pregnenolone, during the 4 weeks prior to the first screening visit. Topical use of steroids is allowed, and hormonal contraceptives are allowed if using a stable regimen throughout the study.
• Subjects with frequent regular use of diet or supplements (e.g., St. John's Wort), food or grapefruit juice that may interfere with the activities of CYP P450.
• Participation in a clinical trial within 1 month prior to the first dose of study drug, or 2 months if terminal half-life of the investigational drug is more than 120 hours.
• Female subjects who are trying to conceive, are pregnant, are lactating or have a positive serum pregnancy test at screening or a positive urine pregnancy test at study visits, regardless of childbearing potential.
• A positive urine drug screen for other drugs of abuse other than cannabinoids and/or a positive breath test for alcohol. One repeat alcohol breath test is allowed at a second screening visit or at the baseline visit.
• Subjects with known allergy to corn or corn derivatives.
• Legal status of the subject that in the opinion of the investigator would interfere with participation, e.g., risk of incarceration.
• Subjects taking any of the medications or substances

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Aelis Farma: lead

Study Sites (11)

Cedar clinical research

Phoenix, Arizona, 85021, United States

Location

CenExel CNR

Garden Grove, California, 82845, United States

Location

UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

Location

Yale Stress Center - Addiction Program

New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States

Location

Segal Trial

Lauderhill, Florida, 33319, United States

Location

Behavioral Clinical Research

Miami Lakes, Florida, 33016, United States

Location

The Substance Treatment and Research Service (S.T.A.R.S.) of Columbia University/NYSPI.

New York, New York, 10032, United States

Location

CODA, Inc Research Department

Portland, Oregon, 97214, United States

Location

Addiction Sciences Division Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, 29425-8640, United States

Location

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UT Health San Antonio.

San Antonio, Texas, 78218, United States

Location

Cedar Clinical Research

Draper, Utah, 84020, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Marijuana Abuse

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Frances Levin, MD

  Columbia University/NYSPI

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Jennifer Wisdom, MD

  CODA Inc, Research Department

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Kevin Gray, MD

  Addiction Sciences Division - Medical University of South Carolina

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Jennifer Potter, MD

  Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - UT Health San Antonio.

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Larissa Mooney, MD

  Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences - UCLA

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Rajita Sinha, MD

  Addiction Program- Yale Stress Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Richi Kakar, MD

  Segal Trials

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Paul Thielking, MD

  CEDAR Salt Lake city

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Olga Lapeyra, MD

  Behavioral Clinical Research

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Haig Goenjian, MD

  CEnExel CNR

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Matt Evans, MD

  CEDAR Arizona

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Up to 330 eligible male or female subjects will be randomized into 1 of 4 treatment groups. The number of females to be enrolled will be limited to ensure that a maximum of 80 female subjects are assigned to active treatment (i.e., to 1 of the AEF0117 treatment groups). Subjects will be randomized to 1 of 4 treatment groups: * AEF0117 1.0 mg once daily (QD) (90 subjects) * AEF0117 0.3 mg QD (90 subjects) * AEF0117 0.1 mg QD (60 subjects) * Placebo (90 subjects)

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 24, 2022
• First Posted: April 12, 2022
• Study Start: May 6, 2022
• Primary Completion: April 11, 2024
• Study Completion: July 22, 2024
• Last Updated: July 30, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (11)