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WithdrawnPhase 1

Exenatide For Reducing the Reinforcing Effects of Cocaine

Key facts

Who runs it
Christopher D. Verrico
Where
Houston, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Status
Withdrawn
Phase
Phase 1
Started
1 Aug 2024
Expected to end
31 Dec 2026
Type of study
Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets a placebo (a dummy treatment), for comparison.
Treatments tested
  • Exenatide
  • Placebo
Record updated
13 March 2026
Why it stopped
The study was closed due to the inability to acquire the study drug.

Who can take part

Age
18 years to 65 years
Sex
Women and men
Healthy volunteers
Cannot take part

The registry criteria, word for word

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Who can take part

  • English-speaking
  • Male or female ≥ 18 and ≤ 65 years of age
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent and participate in all required study activities
  • Self-reported recent use of smoked or IV COC verified by a COC positive urine (≥ 150 ng/mL)
  • Report using COC for ≥ 10 years and using ≥ 2 grams of COC/week
  • Have vital signs as follows, resting pulse between 50 and 95 bpm, blood pressure (BP) between 90-150 mmHg systolic and 45-95 mmHg diastolic
  • Have hematology and chemistry laboratory tests that are within reference limits (±10%), with the following exception, pancreatic tests (lipase and amylase) must be within normal limits
  • Have a medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (ECG), drug-use history, and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) demonstrating no clinically significant contraindications for study participation, in the judgment of a Study Physician and the Principal Investigator
  • Agree (if the subject is female and of child-bearing potential) to use at least one of the following methods of birth control from time of the first administration of the study drug to at least 7 days post the last dose of study drug, unless the partner is surgically sterile (underwent vasectomy),; oral contraceptives,; contraceptive sponge,; patch,; double barrier (diaphragm/spermicidal or condom/spermicidal),; intrauterine contraceptive system,; etonogestrel implant,; medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive injection,; complete abstinence from sexual intercourse, and/or; hormonal vaginal contraceptive ring
  • Women of child-bearing potential must provide negative urine pregnancy tests prior to randomization, and at study visits as indicated in the Research Strategy
  • No contraindications/allergies to COC or exenatide
  • Cardiovascular and subjective responses to COC within acceptable

Who cannot take part

  • Previous medically adverse reaction to the study medications (Bydureon) or COC
  • Medication use that might interact with COC or exenatide, or otherwise compromise safety
  • Previous history of pancreatitis or risk of pancreatitis
  • Contraindications to treatment with exenatide (e.g., personal of family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type-2; history of pancreatitis or risk of pancreatitis)
  • Positive urine screen for drugs-of-abuse, other than COC or marijuana, or breath alcohol test. Note, if positive for opioids or oxycodone but recent opioid use for acute pain is reported by the subject, then the subject can be included at the discretion of the Primary Investigator and/or Study Physician
  • Clinically significant medical conditions
  • Meet diagnostic criteria for substance-use disorders other than for CUD that in the opinion of the study physician would comprise the well-being of the participant
  • Seeking treatment for a substance use disorder
  • Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2
  • Severe cardiovascular disease (history of myocardial infarction, life-threatening arrhythmia, or worsening angina pectoris)
  • Severe gastrointestinal disease (i.e., severe gastroparesis)
  • Have a history of suicidal ideation
  • Have any illness or condition which in the opinion of the Principal Investigator and/or the Study Physician would preclude safe and/or successful completion of the study
  • Any laboratory test deemed clinically significant by the study physician
  • Type 1 or type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (HbA1C level of ≥6.5%)
  • Creatinine clearance <45 or end stage renal disease (ESRD)
  • Participation in a clinical trial within 30 days of admission
  • Positive urine pregnancy test or females trying to conceive, donated ova, are pregnant, or are lactating or breast feeding at screening or throughout study

Where in United States

  • Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical CenterHouston, United States

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

This study will determine the safety and tolerability of exenatide (Bydureon®) as a pharmacotherapy for cocaine use disorder. An inpatient human laboratory study will be conducted in which the self-administration of cocaine, as well as the subjective and physiological effects of cocaine, are evaluated during maintenance on placebo and exenatide.

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Although exenatide (Bydureon) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, it has not been approved by the FDA to treat cocaine use; therefore, it is called an investigational drug.

The 2 groups in the trial

  • Drug: Exenatide 2 mg [Bydureon]Treatment being tested

    Participants will receive once-weekly subcutaneous exenatide (2 mg) injections for 6 weeks.

    Treatment: Exenatide

  • Drug: PlaceboPlacebo, for comparison

    Participants will receive once-weekly subcutaneous saline (i.e., placebo) injections for 6 weeks.

    Treatment: Placebo

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
A Human Laboratory Study of Exenatide for Reducing the Reinforcing Effects of Cocaine
Record updated
13 March 2026