Pharmacokinetics, Subjective Effects, and Abuse Liability of Nicotine Salt-Based Vaping Products With Tobacco or Unflavored E-liquids, SALTVAPE Study

Pharmacokinetics, Subjective Effects, and Abuse Liability of Nicotine Salt-Based Vaping Products With Tobacco or Unflavored E-liquids[SALTVAPE Study]

This trial studies activity of time (pharmacokinetics), subjective effects, and abuse liability of nicotine salt-based vaping products with tobacco or e-liquids. This study aims to determine and compare the levels of nicotine delivered to the bloodstream from nicotine salt and free-base nicotine e-liquid solutions.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Nicotine Dependence
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Nicotine; Device: Vaporizer Device

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the effect of nicotine salt (nicotine benzoate) and free-base nicotine in different flavored e-liquid solutions on puffing behaviors and systemic exposure to nicotine from electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) by:

Ia. Assessing short-term effects on nicotine cravings, withdrawal, and satisfaction from single use of ENDS refilled with flavored nicotine salt or flavored free-base nicotine solutions with two different flavors (tobacco or unflavored) in current daily ENDS users following an overnight fast.

Ib. Comparing users' perceptions and preferences towards inhaling vapors containing nicotine salt (nicotine benzoate) or freebase nicotine with two different flavors (tobacco and unflavored) versus their regular brand.

II. This project provides important information on whether the pharmacokinetics of nicotine delivery differ between salt and free-base forms of e-liquid of equivalent nominal concentration using the same device, and whether the previously observed effects of flavors on subjective effects differ between salt and free-base forms.

III. Determine whether maximum concentration of nicotine in plasma (Cmax) or time to maximum concentration (Tmax) differ between free-base and salt-based versions of the same liquid, controlling for flavoring and nominal nicotine concentration [main effect of salt].

IV. Determine whether the effect of flavoring on subjective effects (e.g., harshness, liking) differs between matched free-base and salt-based e-liquids [flavor X salt interaction].

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. Examine effects of salt and flavoring on abuse liability using the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace (ETM).

OUTLINE:

After 8-10 hours after nicotine abstinence, participants attend 4 vaping sessions over 2-2.5 hours, 5-7 days apart. During each session, participants take 20 puffs over 10 minutes (one puff every 30 seconds) of vaporizer filled with freebased nicotine electronic (e)-liquid solution of unflavored, free-based nicotine e-liquid solution of tobacco flavor, salt-based nicotine e-liquid solution of unflavored, or salt-based nicotine e-liquid solution of tobacco flavor assigned in a random order.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 20
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14263
      • Recruiting
      • Roswell Park Cancer Institute
      • Contact: Amanda Quisenberry; Phone Number: 716-845-4918; Email: Amanda.Quisenberry@RoswellPark.org
      • Principal Investigator: Amanda Quisenberry

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 55 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Willingness to abstain from using ENDS product for 8-10 hours (overnight abstinence) prior to study visits

• Current daily ENDS user as determined by

  • Has used ENDS product every day for the past 6 months (by history)
  • Has used ENDS product or e-liquid containing nicotine (by history)
• Participant or legal representative must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign and Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoked cigarettes in the past 7 days
• Currently smokes >= 5 cigarettes per month
• Unstable medical conditions (such as unstable heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension, thyroid disease, diabetes, renal or liver impairment, or glaucoma) or psychiatric condition (such as current major depression, history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder) or current regular use of psychiatric medications (such as major tranquilizers and antidepressants)
• History of serious side effects from nicotine or from any nicotine replacement therapies
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
• Pregnant or nursing females
• Concurrent participation in another clinical trial
• Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
• Any condition which in the investigator's opinion deems the participant an unsuitable candidate

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Low Nicotine (nicotine vapor) 24 mg.ml; After 8-10 hours after nicotine abstinence, participants attend 4 vaping sessions over 2-2.5 hours, 5-7 days apart. During each session, participants take 20 puffs over 10 minutes (one puff every 30 seconds) of vaporizer filled with freebased nicotine e-liquid solution of unflavored, free-based nicotine e-liquid solution of tobacco flavor, salt-based nicotine e-liquid solution of unflavored, or salt-based nicotine e-liquid solution of tobacco flavor assigned in a random order.	Drug: Nicotine; Vape different flavor nicotine products; Other Names: (-)-Nicotine; NIC; Device: Vaporizer Device; Take puffs from vaporizer filled with different flavors; Other Names: Vaporizer
Experimental: High Nicotine (nicotine vapor) 42 mg.ml; After 8-10 hours after nicotine abstinence, participants attend 4 vaping sessions over 2-2.5 hours, 5-7 days apart. During each session, participants take 20 puffs over 10 minutes (one puff every 30 seconds) of vaporizer filled with freebased nicotine e-liquid solution of unflavored, free-based nicotine e-liquid solution of tobacco flavor, salt-based nicotine e-liquid solution of unflavored, or salt-based nicotine e-liquid solution of tobacco flavor assigned in a random order.	Drug: Nicotine; Vape different flavor nicotine products; Other Names: (-)-Nicotine; NIC; Device: Vaporizer Device; Take puffs from vaporizer filled with different flavors; Other Names: Vaporizer

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximum concentration of nicotine in plasma (Cmax)	Each outcome will be modeled as a function of base (free-base versus salt based), flavor (tobacco versus unflavored), their interaction, prior combination indicator (for carry over effect), and a random subject effect using a linear mixed model. All model assumptions will be verified graphically and transformations will be applied as appropriate. The effect of "base" on the Cmax will be evaluated using tests about the least square means of "base". Additionally, 95% confidence intervals about the mean differences will be obtained.	Up to 1 year
Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)	Each outcome will be modeled as a function of base (free-base versus salt based), flavor (tobacco versus unflavored), their interaction, prior combination indicator (for carry over effect), and a random subject effect using a linear mixed model. All model assumptions will be verified graphically and transformations will be applied as appropriate. The effect of "base" on the AUC nicotine will be evaluated using tests about the least square means of "base". Additionally, 95% confidence intervals about the mean differences will be obtained.	From 0 to 120 minutes
Time to maximum concentration	Each outcome will be modeled as a function of base (free-base versus salt based), flavor (tobacco versus unflavored), their interaction, prior combination indicator (for carry over effect), and a random subject effect using a linear mixed model. All model assumptions will be verified graphically and transformations will be applied as appropriate. The effect of "base" on the Tmax measures will be evaluated using tests about the least square means of "base". Additionally, 95% confidence intervals about the mean differences will be obtained.	Up to 1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Subjective measure of perceived harshness of nicotine withdrawal symptoms	A Sensory Measuring scale will be used with -100 least intense and 100 most intense.	Up to 1 year
Subjective measure of perceived satisfaction of nicotine withdrawal symptoms	Product evaluation scale with 4 being most satisfying and 1 being least satisfying	Up to 1 year
Subjective measure of perceived liking of nicotine withdrawal symptoms	Product evaluation scale with 4 being most satisfying and 1 being least satisfying	Up to 1 year
Change in nicotine withdrawal symptoms	Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale	Up to 1 year

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Demand indices including intensity and elasticity of demand for each device sampled	First, to quantify the relationship between purchasing and the price of e-cigarettes, the data will be fit to a modification of a model proposed by Hursh and Silberberg. Then, to analyze the level of substitution of alternative tobacco products, we will fit linear regressions for each product type. Slopes that differ from zero will be considered substitutes within each product availability condition.	Up to 1 year
Substitution levels of alternative tobacco products	To compare the level of substitutability in the different product availability conditions, slopes will be compared using a 2 X 2 analysis of variance.	Up to 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Roswell Park Cancer Institute
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Amanda Quisenberry, Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 18, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 18, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 18, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 10, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 13, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): January 18, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 8, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 6, 2023
• Last Verified: June 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Tobacco Use Disorder; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Cholinergic Agents; Ganglionic Stimulants; Nicotinic Agonists; Cholinergic Agonists; Nicotine
• Other Study ID Numbers: I 475819 (Other Identifier: Roswell Park Cancer Institute); NCI-2019-07370 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program)); U54CA228110 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes