title: Assessment of human abuse potential of dasotraline compared to methylphenidate and placebo in recreational stimulant users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the abuse potential of dasotraline, a novel dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with slow absorption (tmax, 10-12h) and elimination (t1/2=47-77 h) that is in development for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Recreational stimulant users (N=48) who had specific experience with cocaine, and who were able to distinguish methylphenidate (60 mg) versus placebo in a qualification session, were randomized, in a 6-period, double-blind, crossover design, to receive single doses of dasotraline 8 mg, 16 mg, and 36 mg, methylphenidate (MPH) 40 mg and 80 mg, and placebo. The primary endpoint was the Drug Liking Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score at the time of peak effect (Emax).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the 3 doses of dasotraline and placebo on the drug liking VAS at Emax, and on most secondary endpoints. Both doses of MPH had significantly higher VAS-drug liking scores at Emax relative to both placebo (P<0.001 for all comparisons) and dasotraline 8 mg (P<0.001), 16 mg (P<0.001) and 36 mg (P<0.01). The increase in heart rate for MPH and dasotraline 36 mg showed a time-course that closely matched subject-rated measures such as Any Effects VAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, dasotraline was found to have low potential for abuse, which may be, in part, related to its established pharmacokinetics (PK) profile, which is characterized by slow absorption and gradual elimination.
authors.affiliation: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA. Electronic address: Kenneth.Koblan@Sunovion.com.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Koblan
authors.affiliation: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarma
authors.affiliation: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gallina
authors.affiliation: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: INC Research Toronto Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levy-Cooperman
authors.affiliation: INC Research Toronto Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schoedel
authors.affiliation: Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loebel
mesh_terms: D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D000328:Adult; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate; C000609455:4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-amine; D015057:1-Naphthylamine
keywords: ADHD; Amphetamines; Attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity; Central nervous system stimulants; Substance abuse