crossover study to evaluate the abuse potential of intranasal esketamine compared to racemic intravenous ketamine in nondependent, recreational drug users

Conditions: Drug Abuse

Summary: the primary objective of this study is to evaluate the abuse potential of intranasal esketamine (112 milligram and 84 mg) compared to racemic intravenous ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) in nondependent, recreational polydrug users of perception-altering drugs.

this is a single-center, single-dose, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled (participants are randomly assigned to a test treatment or to an identical-appearing treatment that does not contain the test drug), randomized (study medication assigned to participants by chance), crossover study in up to 120 men and women self-identifying as current, recreational, nondependent polydrug users. the study has a screening phase (consisting of a screening visit and a qualification session) and a treatment phase. in the qualification session participants will be randomized to receive sequence 1: intravenous placebo and intranasal placebo concurrently (treatment a) on day 1 and an intravenous dose (0.5 mg/kg) of racemic ketamine and intranasal placebo concurrently (treatment b) on day 2, or the participants will receive sequence 2: treatment b on day 1 and treatment a on day 2. in the treatment phase eligible participants will be administered 4 treatments: a, b, c (intravenous placebo and intranasal 84 mg esketamine as 3 devices, each with 28 mg esketamine followed by 1 device with placebo) and d (intravenous placebo and intranasal 112 mg of esketamine as 4 devices, each with 28 mg esketamine) in a cross-over manner (1 treatment per period) in sequence 3, 4, 5, or 6. periods 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be separated by 7 to 14 days. primarily the drug abuse potential will be evaluated. safety of the participants will be monitored throughout the study.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * participants with body mass index (bmi) between 18 and 30 kilogram per square meter (kg/m\^2) (inclusive), and body weight not less than 50 kg * signed an informed consent document indicating they understand the purpose of and procedures required for the study and are willing to participate in the study, including the pharmacogenomic research component of the study * be a current, recreational, nondependent, polydrug user defined as nonmedical use with at least 2 types of perception-altering drugs of abuse (example, lysergic acid diethylamide, cannabinoids, ketamine, ecstasy/3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, phencyclidine, psilocybin, and ring-substituted amphetamines with perception altering effects) and at least 10 total lifetime occasions of use with perception-altering drugs of abuse and who like their effects * report having used ketamine at least once in a lifetime without moderate or severe adverse effects * report having used a perception-altering drug (example, lysergic acid diethylamide, cannabinoids, ketamine, ecstasy/3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, phencyclidine, psilocybin, and ring substituted amphetamines with perception altering effects) at least once within 3 months prior to the screening phase without moderate or severe adverse effects exclusion criteria: * participant with a history of or current clinically significant medical illness including (but not limited to) cardiac arrhythmias or other cardiac disease, hematologic disease, lipid abnormalities, significant pulmonary disease, including bronchospastic respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, hepatic or renal insufficiency, thyroid disease, neurologic disease, infection, hypertension or vascular disorder, kidney or urinary tract disturbances, sleep apnea, myasthenia gravis, or any other illness that the investigator considers should exclude the participant or that could interfere with the interpretation of the study results * participant has a current or prior diagnosis of psychotic or bipolar disorder * participant with clinically significant abnormal values for hematology, clinical chemistry, or urinalysis at screening or at admission to the study center (day -1 of the qualification session and each period of the treatment phase) as determined by the investigator * participant with a history or presence of drug (excluding nicotine or caffeine) or alcohol dependence according to the 4th edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (dsm-iv) criteria * participation in treatment for substance-related disorders within 3 years prior to screening

Keywords: esketamine placebo racemic ketamine pharmacokinetics