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WithdrawnNCT02139761Updated Nov 4, 2019

L-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) Treatment for Cocaine Use Disorder

A Phase 2 interventional study of l-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP) and Placebo in Cocaine Use, sponsored by University of Maryland, Baltimore. Withdrawn at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2019-11-04.

Sponsored by University of Maryland, Baltimore · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was withdrawn
Study funding has not been established
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
0
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 50 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Cocaine continues to be one of the most widely used substances of abuse around the world. In the US, an estimated 1.4 million individuals (0.5%) > 12 years were current (past month) cocaine users in 2011. Currently, no FDA-approved pharmacologic treatments are available for cocaine addiction; thus, this remains a serious public health problem without an effective pharmacological treatment. A promising lead towards an effective treatment comes from a recent finding that pretreatment with oral l-tetrahydropalmitine (l-THP) in rats attenuated the cocaine seeking associated with a cocaine challenge, while having no motor effects. This finding stimulated our group to test the pharmacokinetics and safety of l-THP in a phase I study of people with cocaine use. Preliminary findings show l-THP is safe and well tolerated in cocaine users, with no adverse interactions with cocaine.

This study will test the efficacy and safety of l-THP for abstinence in those with cocaine addiction in a phase II pilot study (N=24). Secondarily, we will examine the effects of these medications on craving.

02

Conditions studied

  • Cocaine Use

Keywords

  • Cocaine
  • Treatment
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Maryland, Baltimore is the lead sponsor of 687 studies on the registry; 129 are open to participants now.

Of its 90 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 63 (70%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 50 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • men or non-pregnant/non-nursing women between the ages of 18 and 50 years
  • meeting criteria for DSM-5 cocaine use disorder
  • self-reported cocaine use (intranasal, IV or smoked) averaging at least weekly for the prior six months positive urine drug test for cocaine in the prior month
  • HIV seronegative
  • EKG without clinically significant abnormality
  • normal blood pressure (systolic: 90-140 mmHg; diastolic: 50-90 mmHg) and resting heart rate (60-90 bpm)
  • ability to adhere to the study restrictions and examination schedule
  • women with reproductive potential must agree to the use of one of the following birth control methods (oral contraceptives, condom with spermicide, diaphragm, or intrauterine device) during the study and for 2 weeks after last medication dose.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • participation in any investigational drug trial or clinical drug trial within 45 days before study entry
  • history of clinically significant adverse reaction or hypersensitivity to cocaine or l-THP
  • inability to communicate or co-operate with the investigators
  • currently taking any prescribed psychoactive medication, e.g., anti- depressant, anti-psychotic, or mood stabilizer
  • current clinically significant medical problem that might interfere with safe study participation. This includes pheochromocytoma, untreated hyperthyroidism, dehydration, fever, coronary artery disease, uncorrected congenital heart defect, seizures, electrolyte imbalance, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, porphyria variegate, superventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, or uncontrolled hypertension.
  • current Axis I Major Depression, Schizophrenia, or Bipolar Disorder.
  • score below 10/12 on the Evaluation to Sign Consent (ESC)
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
0 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    l-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP)

    Subjects will be dosed 30 mg BID (2 capsules total a day, total of 60mg/day), matching placebo or l-THP) (total 60 mg daily). The half-life of l-THP is about 10 hours, so subjects will reach steady state in about 2-3 days. The l-THP will be prepared at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to Chemistry under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and standards. The identical placebo and active capsules will be manufactured and sent to the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center Pharmacy, where they will be stored, randomized and dispensed. Medication will be transported by the study staff to the participant once dispensing occurs.

    Drug: l-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP)

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo

    Subjects will be dosed 30 mg BID (2 capsules total a day, total of 60mg/day), matching placebo or l-THP) (total 60 mg daily). The half-life of l-THP is about 10 hours, so subjects will reach steady state in about 2-3 days. The l-THP will be prepared at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to Chemistry under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and standards. The identical placebo and active capsules will be manufactured and sent to the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center Pharmacy, where they will be stored, randomized and dispensed. Medication will be transported by the study staff to the participant once dispensing occurs.

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • Drugl-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP)

    Subjects will be dosed 30 mg BID (2 capsules total a day, total of 60mg/day), matching placebo or l-THP) (total 60 mg daily). The half-life of l-THP is about 10 hours, so subjects will reach steady state in about 2-3 days. The l-THP will be prepared at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to Chemistry under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and standards. The identical placebo and active capsules will be manufactured and sent to the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center Pharmacy, where they will be stored, randomized and dispensed. Medication will be transported by the study staff to the participant once dispensing occurs.

  • DrugPlacebo

    Subjects will be dosed 30 mg BID (2 capsules total a day, total of 60mg/day), matching placebo or l-THP) (total 60 mg daily). The half-life of l-THP is about 10 hours, so subjects will reach steady state in about 2-3 days. The l-THP will be prepared at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy to Chemistry under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and standards. The identical placebo and active capsules will be manufactured and sent to the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center Pharmacy, where they will be stored, randomized and dispensed. Medication will be transported by the study staff to the participant once dispensing occurs.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. We will assess abstinence to cocaine as the outcome

    We will measure cocaine and its metabolite by urine drug test to assess for abstinence.

    Time frame: 8 Weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Maryland Psychiatric Research Center
    Catonsville, Maryland 21228, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 4, 2019, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02139761
Lead sponsor
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Collaborators
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Responsible party
Deanna Kelly (Deanna L. Kelly Pharm.D., BCPP, University of Maryland, Baltimore) — Principal investigator
First posted
May 15, 2014
Start date
Sep 2014
Primary completion
Jun 2016 (estimated)
Completion
Jun 2016 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 4, 2019

Study contacts

Deanna L Kelly, Pharm.D, BCPP
principal investigator · University of Maryland, Baltimore

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is withdrawn, as verified in Oct 2019. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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