A Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Neuromodulation Using 'ExAblate 4000 Type 2.1' in Patients With Psychostimulant Use Disorder(PUD)

Safety and Efficacy of Neuromodulation Using 'ExAblate 4000 Type 2.1' in Patients With Psychostimulant Use Disorder(PUD): a Single-center, Evaluators-blind, Prospective, Randomized, Feasibility, Investigator-initiated Trial

The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate the initial safety and efficacy of the ExAblate Model 4000 Type 2.1 surgical device for nucleus accumbens (NAc) neuromodulation in patients with psychostimulant use disorder (PUD).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Psychostimulant Use Disorder(PUD)
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: ExAblate 4000 Type 2.1

Detailed Description

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of neuromodulation using 'ExAblate 4000 Type 2.1' in patients with psychostimulant use disorder (PUD). It is designed as a single-center, open, prospective, randomized, feasibility, investigator-initiated trial. Patients with psychostimulant use disorder (PUD) will be referred to this clinical trial. Those who have been fully informed about the clinical trial and voluntarily sign an informed consent form will undergo screening tests. After checking all inclusion/exclusion eligibility, the Investigator will assign randomization numbers and randomize subjects to SHAM+ACTIVE or ACTIVE arm in a 1:1 ratio, and finally enroll subjects in this clinical trial. Subjects will receive an investigational medical device as described below based on their arm assignment at Visit 2.

The investigator will perform neuromodulation of the bilateral nucleus accumbens using the investigational medical device "ExAblate 4000 Type 2.1". At the end of the procedure, the subject will be observed for at least 2 hours after application of the investigational medical device. At this point, the investigator will confirm the occurrence of the adverse event that may cause the dropout as below. If the subject is dropped out, follow-up observation of the adverse event continues. Subjects will return to the site at Visit 3 (7±2 days post-active device application), Visit 4 (30±7 days post-active device application), Visit 5 (90±7 days post-active device application), and Visit 6 (180±7 days post-active device application) for safety and efficacy assessments. All subjects will complete a follow-up evaluation at Visit 6 (Day 180±7) after the ACTIVE device procedure and will exit the clinical trial if no adverse events have occurred or if the investigator determines that no further follow-up for adverse events is necessary.

The primary endpoint includes the success rate of psychostimulant abstinence (%). The secondary endpoint includes time to recurrence (in days), VAS rating of craving severity (mm), assessments related to mood/anxiety/attention/impulsivity, assessment of cognitive function, evaluation of fMRI drug cue reactivity (FDCR) in neural signaling of drug craving (including striatum, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and synapses).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• South Korea
  • Seoul
    • Seoul, Seoul, South Korea, 02841
      • Recruiting
      • Korea University Anam Hospital
      • Contact: Kweon, eun jung; Phone Number: 82+02-920-5696; Email: kweonej@kumc.or.kr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults between the ages of 19 and 60

2. Subject is diagnosed with a DSM-5 psychostimulant* use disorder (PUD) by a board certified psychiatrist.

   *Psychostimulants: Methamphetamine, cocaine, and other stimulants

3. Subject is currently receiving standard substance use disorder inpatient treatment or an intensive outpatient program
4. Subject has been off psychostimulants and other illicit drugs, confirmed via urine toxicology screen
5. Subject has not regularly used illegal drugs other than psychostimulants more than once a month in the past six months
6. The NAc is apparent on MRI such that treatment targeting can be performed directly (visible on MRI) and indirectly (using other anatomical structures for measurements)
7. Subject is able to communicate sensations during the investigational procedure
8. Subject has made a voluntary decision to participate in this clinical trial and has given written consent.
9. Subject is willing to comply to the protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject with standard contraindication for MR imaging, such as non-MRI compatible implanted metallic devices.
2. Subject with known allergies to the MRI contrast agent gadolinium (Gadovist®) or contraindication (such as untreated hypokalemia).
3. Subject who are unable or unwilling to tolerate the required prolonged stationary position during treatment (approximately 2-3 hours)
4. More than 30% of the skull area traversed by the sonication pathyway is covered by scars, scalp disorder (e.g., eczema), or atrophy of the scalp.
5. Subject with implanted objects in the skull or brain
6. Subject diagnosed with advanced kidney disease or on dialysis
7. Subjet with impaired renal function with estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m 2

8. Subject with known unstable cardiac status or severe hypertension including:

   • Documented myocardial infarction within six months of enrollment
   • Unstable angina on medication
   • Unstable or worsening congestive heart failure
   • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) below the lower limit of normal
   • History of hemodynamically unstable cardiac arrhythmias
   • Cardiac pacemaker
   • Severe hypertension (diastolic blood pressure over 100 on medication)
9. Subject has a history of abnormal bleeding or coagulopathy
10. Subject is receiving anticoagulant (e.g., warfarin) or antiplatelet (e.g., aspirin) therapy within one week of focused ultrasound procedure or drugs known to increase risk of hemorrhage (e.g., Avastin) within one month of focused ultrasound procedure

11. Subject has blood coagulation test results outside the normal range

    • PLT<100,000/μL
    • PT>13.9 seconds or PTT>37.5 seconds
    • INR>1.2
12. Subject with cerebrovascular disease as determined by MRI according to Fazekas score
13. Subject with a past or current diagnosis of schizophrenia, psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or untreated depression other than one determined to be substance induced
14. Score of greater than 17 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) or increased risk of suicide based on any positive response regarding passive or active suicidal ideation with or without intent over the past 3 months or lifetime history of active suicidal ideation with intent on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) at baseline
15. Diagnosis of dementia or any other disorder which has led to a clinically significant cognitive impairment (assessed via NIHTB-CB)
16. Subject with brain tumors
17. Subject with chronic pulmonary disorders e.g. severe emphysema, pulmonary vasculitis, or other casues of reduced pulmonary vascular cross-sectional area.
18. Any known CNS infection or infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
19. Subject who has had deep brain stimulation or a prior stereostatic ablation of the NAc, basal ganglia, or thalamus
20. Subject who has been administered botulinum toxins into to the arm, neck, or face for 5 months prior to baseline
21. Subject unwilling to refrain from using illicit drugs while participating in this clinical trial
22. Subject is pregnant or nursing women

23. For women of childbearing potential*, who do not agree to use clinically appropriate contraception** for the duration of the clinical trial

    *Definition of women of childbearing age: means women who have experienced menarche, have not been surgically sterilized (hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy), or are not post-menopausal, defined as amenorrhea for 12 months or more for no other reason.

    **Clinically appropriate contraception: defined as "[intrauterine device (e.g., Loop, Mirena), chemical barrier method (spermicide), or subdermal implantable contraceptive device (e.g., Implanon)] + physical barrier method (male or female)" for women, tubal surgery, or laparoscopic contraception (a type of tubal ligation).

24. Other, if the investigator determines that participation in the clinical trial is inappropriate ethically or because it may affect the outcome of the clinical trial

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Active arm: Visit 2(Active procedure)	Device: ExAblate 4000 Type 2.1; In Sham+Active arm, the subject will receive sham device application(Visit 2-1) and then active device application(Visit 2-2) after 7±2 days. In Active arm, the subject will receive active device application(Visit 2) Subjects will return to the site at Visit 3 (7±2 days post-active device application), Visit 4 (30±7 days post-active device application), Visit 5 (90±7 days post-active device application), and Visit 6 (180±7 days post-active device application) for safety and efficacy assessments.
Sham Comparator: Sham+Active arm; Visit 2-1(Sham procedure), Visit 2-2(7±2 days after applying sham device): evaluate safety and effectiveness for SHAM devices, Active procedure	Device: ExAblate 4000 Type 2.1; In Sham+Active arm, the subject will receive sham device application(Visit 2-1) and then active device application(Visit 2-2) after 7±2 days. In Active arm, the subject will receive active device application(Visit 2) Subjects will return to the site at Visit 3 (7±2 days post-active device application), Visit 4 (30±7 days post-active device application), Visit 5 (90±7 days post-active device application), and Visit 6 (180±7 days post-active device application) for safety and efficacy assessments.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Success rate of psychostimulant abstinence (%)	Percentage of subjects with no detectable psychostimulants and other illicit drugs by urine toxicology screening after application	7, 30, 90, and 180 days after ACTIVE device application

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to recurrence (in days)	Mean time to relapse for subjects with psychostimulants and other illicit drugs detected by urine toxicology screening after application of the ACTIVE device	6 months
Assessments related to mood/anxiety/attention/impulsivity	Change (in points) in assessments of mood/anxiety/attention/impulsivity	Baseline to 7 days after SHAM device application, baseline to 7, 30, 90, and 180 days post ACTIVE device
Assessment of cognitive function	Change in Cognitive Function Assessment (points) Post-ACTIVE Device application	Baseline to 180 days post-ACTIVE Device application
Evaluation of fMRI drug cue reactivity (FDCR) in neural signaling of drug craving (including striatum, orbitofrontal cortex, amygdala, and synapses)	Change in fMRI drug cue reactivity after sham or active device application	Baseline to 7 days after SHAM device application, Baseline to 7 days and 180 days after active device application
Visual Analog Scale rating of craving severity (mm)	Change in substance craving visual analog scale (VAS, 0~100mm) score after sham or active device application. 0 indicates no craving at all, while 100 indicates the maximum craving.	Baseline to 7 days after SHAM device application, baseline to 7, 30, 90, and 180 days post ACTIVE device

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Korea University Anam Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 19, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): June 25, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 5, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 28, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: neuromodulation; ExAblate 4000 Type 2.1; Psychostimulant use disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: KUAHPD-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No