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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02217527

Test of Novel Drug for Smoking Cessation

The study will assess a novel active drug vs. placebo on ability to reduce smoking and aid cessation during a one-week "practice" quit period for each condition in smokers with a high interest in quitting (i.e. crossover design). Medication effects on reducing withdrawal and cognitive impairment will help assess the mechanism to support quit smoking attempts.

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Key information

Conditions

Smoking Cessation Behavior Health Behavior

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Univ of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

About this study

We aim to test the proof of principal that an alpha-7 PAM drug, JNJ-39393406, promotes smoking cessation when compared to placebo. We have developed, tested, and validated an efficient Phase 2a screening procedure that optimally combines the validity of randomized clinical trials with the practicality of lab- based medication studies. Notably, it employs a within-subject, cross-over design comparing active versus placebo effects on quitting smoking to maximize statistical power without a large sample, in contrast to the large samples needed for between-groups randomized treatment conditions. Using this procedure, we will evaluate effects of JNJ-39393406 vs. placebo on short-term smoking abstinence in smokers who already have a high interest in quitting soon. We predict that, compared with placebo, JNJ-39393406 will increase days of abstinence, identifying initial evidence of efficacy for smoking cessation. Our main dependent measure is days of very stringent biochemically validated (expired CO<5 ppm) 24-hr smoking abstinence, with post-quit withdrawal and cognitive function as secondary measures. Potential for adverse side-effects will be assessed at each visit.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Healthy male and female dependent smokers wanting to quit soon

-

Exclusion criteria

  • Use of non-smoked nicotine products
  • Already enrolled in cessation program.
  • Recent alcohol or substance dependence (≤ 3 months)
  • Women who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or lactating; all female participants shall undergo a pregnancy test at screening and will be excluded if positive.
  • Serious or unstable medical disorder within the past 3 months
  • Epilepsy
  • Current diagnosis (within last 6-months) of abnormal cardiac rhythms; unstable cardiovascular disease e.g. stroke, myocardial infarction in the last 6 months
  • Evidence impaired liver function test (LFT)
  • Evidence of kidney failure
  • Any subject with a history of hematological cancers examples: leukemia, lymphoma etc.
  • Any clinically significant hematological laboratory abnormality.

Treatment and study plan

Active JNJ Drug

Drug

200 mg/day (100 mg b.i.d.) of Active JNJ Drug will be used for one week while attempting to briefly quit smoking on Mon-Fri of that week.

Other names: JNJ-39393406

Placebo pill

Drug

Placebo pill will be taken daily to assess ability to briefly quit smoking on Mon-Fri for one week.

Primary outcomes

  1. Quit Status

    Time frame: up to one week each drug phase (0-5)

    Complete abstinence from smoking for 24 hr is counted as a "quit day" and is assessed daily from Mon-Fri for just one week, on the JNJ active drug and one week on placebo. This same Mon-Fri procedure for one week (only) is done for both drug phases. Total outcome in each drug condition therefore is number of quit days out of the five assessment days (range 0-5).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS) During Attempt to Quit on Active JNJ Drug and on Placebo

    Time frame: only on days quit while on JNJ or on placebo

    Severity of withdrawal symptoms will be assessed with standard self-report measure of Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS) each quit day during one week only on active JNJ, and each quit day during one week on placebo. Ratings are made on 0-100 visual analog scale, with 0="not at all" to 100="very much", and are averaged to create a total score also ranging from 0-100. Higher scores indicate more severe withdrawal.

  2. Cognitive Function on Continuous Performance Task (CPT) for Those With CO<10 During First Assessment Day (Mon) of Attempt to Quit Smoking During Both JNJ and Plac Quit Periods

    Time frame: first day during quit week on JNJ, and during quit week on placebo.

    This measure of cognitive performance (mean of median speed of correct responding on computer keyboard to letters and numbers) was assessed only on Monday (day 1) of the 0-5 days during each drug/placebo condition. Data only from those shown to have CO<10 ppm were analyzed, to confirm responding during abstinence while on drug/placebo condition. Cognitive testing consisted of standard Continuous Performance Task (CPT), on active JNJ and on placebo phases. This measure is assessed to determine potential mechanism of drug efficacy in relieving disrupted cognitive processing function caused by tobacco deprivation and withdrawal.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Chengappa, K.N. Roy, MD

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Registry information

Official study title

Development of a Novel Therapeutic for Smoking Cessation

Acronym: UH3-P2

Important dates

Study start
2014
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2018
First posted
Aug 15, 2014
Registry last updated
Aug 15, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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