The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Hemp-based Topical Cannabinoid Products

Cannabis Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Hemp-based Topical Cannabinoid Products

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04741477
• Other study ID #: IRB00277556
• Secondary ID: 1-340-0216610-65
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: July 14, 2021
• Est. completion date: September 16, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: March 2023
• Source: Johns Hopkins University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will evaluate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of hemp-based Cannabidiol (CBD) topical products (e.g., lotions, creams, patches) that contain low levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Description:

A total of 5 topical cannabinoid products will be examined in this study. The study will be conducted in 5 discrete stages, one for each product. In each stage, participants (N=20), will be randomized to 1 of 2 double-blind drug conditions that entail the use of: 1) a topical product that contains CBD and a low amount of THC (N=15), or 2) a placebo topical product that does not contain cannabinoids (N=5), but which contains similar non-cannabinoid ingredients to the active product. Thus, overall 100 participants will complete the study (75 active, 25 placebo). Participants in each stage will complete a three-phase outpatient protocol that will last a total of 17 days. Phase 1 (Day 1) will be an acute laboratory dosing session (approximately 7 hours in duration). Phase 2 (Days 2-10) will be an outpatient dosing period, during which participants will continue to use participants' assigned product twice daily (morning and evening) in participants' own environment. During Phase 2, participants will visit the laboratory for brief study sessions on Days 2, 3, 7, and 10. Phase 3, will consist of a final follow-up visit on Day 17, after a 1-week drug washout. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments (subjective and cognitive effects) will be assessed during each phase.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 47
• Est. completion date: September 16, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: September 16, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 55 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Have provided written informed consent

2. Be between the ages of 18 and 55

3. Be in good general health based on a physical examination, medical history, vital signs, and screening urine and blood tests

4. Test negative for recent cannabis use in urine at the screening visit and again upon admission for each experimental session

5. Test negative for other drugs of abuse, including alcohol, at the screening visit and upon arrival for each experimental session

6. Not be pregnant or nursing (if female). All females must have a negative serum pregnancy test at the screening visit and a negative urine pregnancy test at each study visit.

7. Have a body mass index (BMI) in the range of 19 to 36 kg/m^2

8. Have head hair that is at least 4 cm (approximately one and a half inches) in length on the back of the head.

9. Blood pressure at Screening Visit does not exceed a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 150 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 90 mmHg

10. Report prior experience using cannabis or CBD products.

11. Have not donated blood in the prior 30 days.

12. Have a smart phone, tablet, computer, etc. capable of recording videos and operating Redcap.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Non-medical use of psychoactive drugs other than, nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine in the month prior to the screening visit.

2. History of or current evidence of significant medical or psychiatric illness judged by the investigator to put the participant at greater risk of experiencing an adverse event due to exposure or completion of other study procedures.

3. Use of an over-the-counter (OTC), systemic or topical drug(s), herbal supplement(s), vitamin(s), or prescription medications (with the exception of birth control prescriptions) within 14 days of study entry; which, in the opinion of the investigator or sponsor, will interfere with the study results or the safety of the subject.

4. Use of hemp seeds or hemp oil in any form in the past 3 months.

5. Use of dronabinol (Marinol) within the past 6 months.

6. History of xerostomia (dry mouth), or the presence of mucositis, gum infection or bleeding, or other significant oral cavity disease or disorder that in the investigator's opinion may affect the collection of oral fluid samples.

7. History of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias or vasospastic disease (e.g., Prinzmetal's angina).

8. Known allergy to any ingredients in the active or placebo topical products.

9. Enrolled in another clinical trial or have received any drug as part of a research study within 30 days prior to dosing.

10. Epilepsy or a history of seizures.

11. Individuals with anemia.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cannabis
• Drug Effect

Intervention

Drug:
• CBD
CBD will be topically applied
• THC
THC will be topically applied
• Placebo
a placebo product (without cannabinoids) will be topically applied

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Johns Hopkins Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit	Baltimore	Maryland

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Johns Hopkins University	Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Change in Urine cannabinoids	Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in urine (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Primary	Change in Blood cannabinoids	Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in blood (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Secondary	Change in Oral fluid cannabinoids	Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in oral fluid (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Secondary	Change in Hair cannabinoids	Concentration of cannabinoids will be measured in hair (unit of measurement: nanograms/mL)	Days 1 and 17
Secondary	Change in Subjective drug effects as assessed by the Drug Effect Questionnaire	Subjective drug effect ratings (0-100) will be collected with the Drug Effect Questionnaire, with 0 being no effect and 100 being maximum effect.	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Secondary	Change in Cognitive performance as assessed by the Divided Attention Task	Cognitive performance will be evaluated with the Divided Attention Task. Will be measured as the mean distance (in computer pixels) of the mouse cursor from the central stimulus.	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Secondary	Change in Working memory performance as assessed by the Paced Serial Addition Task	Working memory performance will be evaluated with the Paced Serial Addition Task (scores can range from 0-90) with 90 indicating perfect performance.	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17
Secondary	Change in Psychomotor performance as assessed by the Digit Symbol Substitution Task	Psychomotor performance will be evaluated with the Digit Symbol Substitution Task. Will be measured as the number of correct trials within 90 seconds.	Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, and 17