Study of EMB-001 as a Potential Smoking Cessation Treatment

Stopped early · Phase 1/Phase 2

Conditions studied: Tobacco Use Disorder

In brief

EMB-001 is a combination of 2 drugs: the cortisol synthesis inhibitor, metyrapone (Metopirone®), and the benzodiazepine receptor agonist, oxazepam (original trade name Serax®; now marketed as oxazepam (generic) only). This is an open-label study in up to 50 adult subjects to help smokers abstain from smoking during a 12-week trial period.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT04933916
Run by: Embera NeuroTherapeutics, Inc.
People needed: 16
Starts: 2021-06-10
Expected to finish: 2023-05-01
Last updated by the study team: 2023-08-09

Who can join

Age: 21 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Has signed the ICF and is able to read and understand the information provided in the ICF.
Healthy smokers 21 to 65 years of age (inclusive) at screening.
Smokes an average of at least 10 commercially available cigarettes per day for the last 12 months.
Has an expired air CO reading of at least 10 ppm at screening.
Express a desire to quit smoking within the next 30 days at screening.
Serum Cortisol > 3 µg/dL at screening.
Willing and able to comply with the requirements of the study.
Owns a smart phone with text message and data capabilities compatible with necessary surveys.

You may not qualify if…

Is unhealthy or cannot participate in the study for any reason (e.g., medical, psychiatric, and/or social reason) as judged by the Investigator or designated medical staff based on all available assessments from the screening period (e.g., safety laboratory, vital signs, physical examination, ECG, concomitant medications and medical history).
PHQ-9 score greater than 9, or a score greater than 0 on item #9 ("Thoughts that you would be better off dead, or of hurting yourself in some way") at screening.
Elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) greater than two times the upper limit of normal or history of liver disease.
Have positive serology test results for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1/HIV-2 antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen, or hepatitis C antibody.
High blood pressure (systolic > 150 mmHg or diastolic >95 mmHg) at screening.
Body mass index (BMI) less than 18.5 kg/m2 or greater than 35.0 kg/m2.
Coronary heart disease, structural cardiac disease, cardiac dysrhythmias, abnormal ECG, syncope, cardiac chest pain, or history of heart attack or heart failure. For males, QTc > 450 msec. For females QTc > 470 msec (using Fridericia correction formula).
Has a history of clinically significant drug/alcohol overdose as judged by the Investigator.
Has alcohol breathalyzer > 0% at screening.
Has a current DSM-5 opioid or benzodiazepine use disorder of any severity or use of these substances or alcohol in amounts that would increase risk of receiving oxazepam as part of EMB-001 or has received psychotherapy or behavioral treatments potentially impacting symptoms of depression, anxiety, or nicotine withdrawal within 30 days of screening, or during the study.
Has history of mental illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with subject safety or data integrity.
Taking antidepressants, CNS or psychoactive medications (e.g., antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, hypnotics) or medications that prolong QTc within the last 30 days of screen or during study.
Use of any of these products in the past 30 days:
Illegal drugs (or if the urine drug screen is positive for cocaine, THC, amphetamines, methamphetamines, MDMA (Ecstasy), phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or opiates at screening);
Experimental (investigational) drugs or biologic;
Chronic opiate use;
Biotin products (Vitamin B7 or B8, Vitamin H, or coenzyme R).
Use of glucocorticoids including:
Oral glucocorticoids within 90 days of screen or during study;
Inhaled glucocorticoids within 90 days of screen or during study;
Topical glucocorticoids within 7 days of screen or during the study (except when applied to a small body surface area);
Joint injection within 90 days of screening or during the study.
Donation of any blood components within 84 days of screening or during the study or loss of blood ≥ 400 mL within 84 days of screen.
Use of smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco, snuff), cigars (except for cigarillos), pipes, hookah, e-cigarettes, nicotine replacement therapy or other smoking cessation treatments within 14 days of enrollment.
Pregnant or nursing (by self-report) or has a positive pregnancy test.

Where it is running

Embera Site — Miami Lakes, Florida, United States
Rose Research Center — Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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