A Novel Compound for Alcoholism Treatment

Summary

Background: \- Hormones are naturally occurring chemicals in your body. Ghrelin is a hormone that is mainly produced by the stomach and stimulates appetite. Some studies suggest it may stimulate alcohol craving and use. Drugs have been developed that block ghrelin. Researchers want to know if people can tolerate a particular drug that blocks ghrelin. It will be given at two dose levels, combined with alcohol. Objective: \- To determine if a drug that may decrease alcohol consumption when given along with alcohol is safe and tolerable. Eligibility: * Healthy adults 21-65 years old who have 14 (women) to 21 (men) drinks a week. * No one of childbearing potential can participate. Design: * Participants will have 3 inpatient clinic visits; each will last 4 days. * They will have physical exam and blood and urine tests. * They will have breath tests for alcohol and smoking. * They will answer health and mood questions. * Researchers will measure their reaction to smelling alcohol and tasting a sweet drink. * They will eat only the food provided by the clinic. They will keep a food diary 1 day before each stay. * They will be randomly assigned to take the study drug or placebo 5 times each stay. * On Day 3, they will drink alcohol after taking the drug. They will give many blood samples that day through a tube inserted in their skin. * Smokers can take smoke breaks. Once, they will smoke a cigarette through a device. * One week after the last stay, participants will have a follow-up visit to answer questions.

Timeline

Start

2014-01-03

Primary completion

2015-10-01

Completion

2017-12-24

Publications

• Background Leggio L, Schwandt ML, Oot EN, Dias AA, Ramchandani VA. Fasting-induced increase in plasma ghrelin is blunted by intravenous alcohol administration: a within-subject placebo-controlled study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2013 Dec;38(12):3085-91. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.09.005. Epub 2013 Sep 13.
• Background Leggio L, Ferrulli A, Cardone S, Nesci A, Miceli A, Malandrino N, Capristo E, Canestrelli B, Monteleone P, Kenna GA, Swift RM, Addolorato G. Ghrelin system in alcohol-dependent subjects: role of plasma ghrelin levels in alcohol drinking and craving. Addict Biol. 2012 Mar;17(2):452-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2010.00308.x. Epub 2011 Mar 11.
• Background Leggio L, Zywiak WH, Fricchione SR, Edwards SM, de la Monte SM, Swift RM, Kenna GA. Intravenous ghrelin administration increases alcohol craving in alcohol-dependent heavy drinkers: a preliminary investigation. Biol Psychiatry. 2014 Nov 1;76(9):734-41. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.03.019. Epub 2014 Mar 25.
• Background Leggio L. Role of the ghrelin system in alcoholism: Acting on the growth hormone secretagogue receptor to treat alcohol-related diseases. Drug News Perspect. 2010 Apr;23(3):157-66. doi: 10.1358/dnp.2010.23.3.1429490.
• Background Bhattacharya SK, Andrews K, Beveridge R, Cameron KO, Chen C, Dunn M, Fernando D, Gao H, Hepworth D, Jackson VM, Khot V, Kong J, Kosa RE, Lapham K, Loria PM, Londregan AT, McClure KF, Orr ST, Patel J, Rose C, Saenz J, Stock IA, Storer G, VanVolkenburg M, Vrieze D, Wang G, Xiao J, Zhang Y. Discovery of PF-5190457, a Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable Ghrelin Receptor Inverse Agonist Clinical Candidate. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2014 Feb 24;5(5):474-9. doi: 10.1021/ml400473x. eCollection 2014 May 8.
• Cobbina E, Lee MR, Leggio L, Akhlaghi F. A Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis of PF-5190457, a Novel Ghrelin Receptor Inverse Agonist in Healthy Volunteers and in Heavy Alcohol Drinkers. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2021 Apr;60(4):471-484. doi: 10.1007/s40262-020-00942-7. Epub 2020 Nov 5.
• Lee MR, Farokhnia M, Cobbina E, Saravanakumar A, Li X, Battista JT, Farinelli LA, Akhlaghi F, Leggio L. Endocrine effects of the novel ghrelin receptor inverse agonist PF-5190457: Results from a placebo-controlled human laboratory alcohol co-administration study in heavy drinkers. Neuropharmacology. 2020 Jun 15;170:107788. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107788. Epub 2019 Sep 23.
• Denney WS, Sonnenberg GE, Carvajal-Gonzalez S, Tuthill T, Jackson VM. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of PF-05190457: The first oral ghrelin receptor inverse agonist to be profiled in healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2017 Feb;83(2):326-338. doi: 10.1111/bcp.13127. Epub 2016 Oct 29.

Drugs

Indications