Oral Buprenorphine as a Novel Low-dose Induction Strategy for Opioid Use Disorder

Oral Buprenorphine as a Novel Low-Dose Induction Strategy for Individuals With Opioid Use Disorder

This is a human laboratory-based, randomized, cross-over study in which buprenorphine will be administered to healthy volunteers (n=22) in 3 separate inpatient 2-night visits, at least 1 week apart. At each visit, the participant will receive a single dose buprenorphine, either 0.15mg IV, 8mg PO, or 16mg PO. The order for the first dose administered will be fixed to the IV dose, and the subsequent doses will be randomized and counterbalanced to 8mg or 16mg PO. Participants will be given naltrexone to produce opioid blockade to eliminate the risk for opioid dependence in individuals without OUD. Timed blood samples will be collected up to 24 hours.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Opioid Use Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Buprenorphine

Detailed Description

The approach is to conduct a randomized, cross-over trial in a controlled human laboratory setting with healthy volunteers (n=22). After obtaining informed consent, eligible participants will be scheduled for 3 separate two-night test days to receive 0.15mg IV, 8mg PO, or 16mg PO of buprenorphine. The first dose administered will be fixed to an open-label IV dose, and the subsequent doses will be randomized and counterbalanced to 8mg or 16mg PO. Visits will be scheduled at least 1 week apart to allow for washout of drug. One hour prior to receipt of the buprenorphine dose, all participants will be fed a standardized light breakfast. The IV dose will be given after establishing IV access, while the PO doses will be swallowed whole. Participants will also receive oral naltrexone 100mg 24 hours prior to each dosing to provide blockade at the mu-receptor, as well as 50mg PO at the study visit itself prior to receipt of buprenorphine. Timed blood samples will be collected in heparinized Vacutainer tubes via a catheter in the antecubital vein at baseline, and at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours. Samples will be centrifuged and frozen until analysis.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 18
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
      • Brigham and Women's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• English-speaking adults aged 18 and above.
• In good physical health as determined by routine medical screening consisting of a complete physical exam, safety labs and EKG.
• Baseline vital signs with HR between 60 and 100, SBP between 90 and 160mmHg, and respiratory rate between 12 and 20 breaths per minute.
• Prior personal history of opioid use, therapeutic or non-therapeutic in past the 12 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

• DSM-5 diagnosis of any substance use disorder excluding tobacco.
• Presence of any alcohol, cannabis, opioids (including methadone, buprenorphine) or any other illicit substances on urine toxicology at any study visit, including cocaine, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines.
• Receiving treatment with opioid analgesic in last 60 days, or anticipate requiring opioids during the proposed trial, or up to 30 days after the trial completion
• Baseline PHQ-9 or GAD7 > 10 (i.e. moderate depression/anxiety)
• History of chronic pain
• Psychotic disorder, active suicidality or homicidally, or any psychiatric condition that impair ability to provide informed consent.
• History of hypersensitivity or allergy to buprenorphine or naltrexone
• Pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Liver function test greater than 3 times upper normal limit.
• Receiving medications that are strong or moderate CYP34A inducers or inhibitors (including but not limited to ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, fluconazole, erythromycin), in the past 30 days.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 8mg PO buprenorphine; After the open-label period, the participant will receive 8mg PO, then 16mg PO will be administered in the following visit.	Drug: Buprenorphine; At each visit, the participant will receive a single dose of buprenorphine, either 0.15mg IV, 8mg PO, or 16mg PO. The order for the first dose administered will be fixed to the IV dose, and the subsequent doses will be randomized and counterbalanced to 8mg or 16mg PO.
Experimental: 16mg PO buprenorphine; After the open-label period, the participant will receive 16mg PO, then 8mg PO will be administered in the following visit.	Drug: Buprenorphine; At each visit, the participant will receive a single dose of buprenorphine, either 0.15mg IV, 8mg PO, or 16mg PO. The order for the first dose administered will be fixed to the IV dose, and the subsequent doses will be randomized and counterbalanced to 8mg or 16mg PO.
Experimental: 0.15mg IV Dose; The first dose administered will be fixed to an open-label 0.15mg IV dose.	Drug: Buprenorphine; At each visit, the participant will receive a single dose of buprenorphine, either 0.15mg IV, 8mg PO, or 16mg PO. The order for the first dose administered will be fixed to the IV dose, and the subsequent doses will be randomized and counterbalanced to 8mg or 16mg PO.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Plasma-Concentration Curves (AUC) of Buprenorphine	The area under the plasma concentration curves (AUC) of buprenorphine will be determined. Timed blood samples will be collected in heparinized Vacutainer tubes via a catheter in the antecubital vein at baseline, and at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours. Samples will be centrifuged and frozen until analysis.	Baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after study drug administration.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximum Plasma Concentration	Plasma data will be used to calculate maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) for buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, and their glucuronides.	Baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after study drug administration.
Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration	Plasma data will be used to calculate time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) for buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, and their glucuronides.	Baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after study drug administration.
Volume of Distribution	Plasma data will be used to calculate volume of distribution (Vd) for buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, and their glucuronides.	Baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after study drug administration.
Elimination half-life	Plasma data will be used to calculate elimination half-life (t1/2) for buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, and their glucuronides.	Baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after study drug administration.
Total Clearance	Plasma data will be used to calculate total clearance (CL) for buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, and their glucuronides.	Baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after study drug administration.
Pupil Size	Pupil size will be measured through visual inspection both before and after buprenorphine dosing to confirm opioid blockade.	Baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after study drug administration.
The Drug Effects Questionnaire	To confirm opioid blockade, subjective and objective opioid effects will be measured using previously validated Drug Evaluation Questionnaire (DEQ). The DEQ is a 5-item questionnaire where participants answer questions on a sliding scale from 0-100, where 0 indicates lower levels drug effects and 100 indicates higher levels of drug effects.	Baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 hours after study drug administration.
Buccal Swab	DNA testing to check 3A4 activity levels.	will be done once at the baseline visit.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Collaborators: University of Utah

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 4, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 3, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 10, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 17, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 23, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 22, 2025
• Last Verified: October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: buprenorphine; opioid use disorder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Narcotic-Related Disorders; Mental Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Opioid-Related Disorders; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Alkaloids; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; Morphinans; Opiate Alkaloids; Heterocyclic Compounds, Bridged-Ring; Phenanthrenes; Buprenorphine
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2023P002634

Drug and device information, study documents

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