A Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Long-Acting Injectable Formulation of Vanoxerine (Vanoxerine Consta 394.2 mg) for Cocaine Relapse Prevention

Objective: To determine the efficacy and tolerability of a long-acting intramuscular formulation of Vanoxerine (Vanoxerine Consta 394.2 mg) for treatment of cocaine-dependent patients. Design, Setting, and Participants: A 12-week, A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted between June 2009-July 2011, at 17 Hospital-based drug clinics, in the 15 countries. Participants were 18 years or older, had Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 cocaine use disorder. Of the 2800 patients who were assessed between March 10, 2009 to August 10, 2010, 2600 (93%) were eligible and willing to take part in the trial and were enrolled: 1300 were randomly assigned to receive injections of Long-acting depot formulations of Vanoxerine (Vanoxerine Consta 394.2 mg) given intramuscularly once in 12 weeks and 1300 to receive Placebo injections, given intramuscularly once in 12 weeks. Only 100 of 2800 patients (3.6%) did not meet the inclusion criteria. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary endpoints (protocol) were: Confirmed Cocaine abstinence (percentage i.e. the number of patients who achieved complete abstinence during 12 weeks). Confirmed abstinence or “cocaine-free” was defined as a negative urine drug test for cocaines and no self-reported cocaine use. Secondary end points included a number of days in treatment, treatment retention and craving. The study also investigated, on 275 participants, degree and time course of Central Dopamine transporter receptor occupancy following single doses of long-acting intramuscular formulation of Vanoxerine (Vanoxerine Consta 394.2 mg) as well as the plasma concentration of Vanoxerine and 17-hydroxyl Vanoxerine. Safety was assessed by adverse event reporting. Results: Of 2600 participants, mean (SD) age was 28.5 (±5.5) years and 598 (23%) were women. 1300 individuals were randomized to receive injections of Long-acting depot formulations of Vanoxerine (Vanoxerine Consta 394.2 mg) and 1300 to receive injections of Placebo. 1417 participants (54.5.0%) completed the trial. Primary Endpoints: Confirmed Cocaine Abstinence: Complete abstinence was sustained by 72% (n = 936) of Vanoxerine patients (patients treated with Vanoxerine Consta 394.2 mg, long-acting depot formulations) compared with 37% (n = 481) of patients treated with Placebo, during weeks 5 - 12. The difference was significant as evaluated using a Chi-square test (χ2 = 672.34, P < 0.0001). Secondary Endpoint: Craving: A statistically and