Acute Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Effects of "Tobacco-Free" Oral Nicotine Pouches in Smokers

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Drug Effect; Nicotine Withdrawal; Nicotine Addiction

• Registration Number: NCT05335915
• Lead Sponsor: Johns Hopkins University

Brief Summary

The purpose of the present study is to examine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of "tobacco-free" oral nicotine pouches, at various doses and flavors, in healthy adult smokers. The study will utilize a within-subjects, double-blind design. Upon enrollment, participants will complete 7 dosing conditions: tobacco-flavored pouch (low or high nicotine dose), mint/menthol-flavored pouch (low or high nicotine dose), and fruit-flavored pouch (low or high nicotine dose); participants will also complete a condition where the participants will smoke participants' preferred brand of cigarettes. In each experimental session, participants will complete 2 product-use bouts. In bout 1, the participants will use a single product (pouch or cigarette) for a fixed period under controlled conditions. In bout 2, participants will be given 2 hours to use participants' assigned product ad libitum.

Detailed Description

The purpose of the present study is to examine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of "tobacco-free" oral nicotine pouches, at various doses and flavors, in healthy adult smokers. The study will utilize a within-subjects, double-blind design. Upon enrollment, participants will complete 7 dosing conditions: tobacco-flavored pouch (low or high nicotine dose), mint/menthol-flavored pouch (low or high nicotine dose), and fruit-flavored pouch (low or high nicotine dose); participants will also complete a condition where the participants will smoke participants' preferred brand of cigarettes. In each experimental session, participants will complete 2 product-use bouts. In bout 1, the participants will use a single product (pouch or cigarette) for a fixed period under controlled conditions. In bout 2, participants will be given 2 hours to use participants' assigned product ad libitum. Blood specimens will be obtained throughout the sessions to characterize the pharmacokinetics of nicotine and various pharmacodynamic outcomes (subjective drug effects, tobacco withdrawal symptoms, vital signs) will also be assessed. These procedures will be completed 7 separate times (on separate visits) by each participant (sessions will be separated by at least 48 hours).

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-04-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-04-12
• Study First Posted: 2022-04-20
• Study Start: 2022-07-27
• Primary Completion: 2025-08-29
• Study Completion: 2025-08-29
• Status Verified: 2025-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-03
• Last Update Posted: 2025-09-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 71

Inclusion Criteria

1. ≥ 21 years old
2. good general health based on screening procedures (e.g., physical exam, blood testing)
3. vital signs in normal range (resting heart rate less than 100bpm, systolic blood pressure less than 150mmHg, diastolic blood pressure less than 90mmHg)
4. negative urine test for illicit drug use (excluding THC) and negative breath alcohol test at screening and before each session
5. self-report currently smoking daily
6. self-report at least a one year history of regular smoking
7. exhaled breath CO greater than or equal to 10ppm and urine cotinine greater than 100 ng/ml at screening
8. meet criteria for at least mild tobacco use disorder
9. no self-reported regular use of other tobacco products (e.g., smokeless products, e-cigarettes) in the past 30 days
10. no self-reported prior use of novel oral nicotine pouches
11. exhaled breath CO less than 10 ppm upon arrival for each study session.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Psychoactive drug use (aside from cannabis, nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine) in past month
2. Current use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, supplements/vitamins, or prescription medications that, in the opinion of the investigators or medical staff, will impact safety
3. Use of cannabis >4 times per week
4. History of or current significant medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigators or medical staff, will impact safety
5. Current psychiatric condition or substance use disorder (aside from tobacco use disorder) that, in the opinion of the investigators or medical staff, will impact safety or study outcomes
6. Women who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
7. Currently seeking treatment to quit smoking or currently using a nicotine/tobacco cessation product.
8. Enrollment in another clinical trial in the past 30 days

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pharmacokinetics of nicotine as assessed by the Cmax	Up to 6.5 hours	Blood plasma samples will be collected and sent to a designated laboratory for quantitative analysis of nicotine. Maximum concentration (Cmax), is the highest plasma nicotine concentration reached during a session and provides important insight into the abuse liability of a tobacco product.
Pharmacokinetics of nicotine as assessed by the AUC	Up to 6.5 hours	Blood plasma samples will be collected and sent to a designated laboratory for quantitative analysis of nicotine. Area under the curve (AUC), represents the total nicotine exposure during an entire session and provides important insight into the abuse liability of a tobacco product.
Subjective ratings of "Pleasant Drug Effect" as assessed by the Drug Effect Questionnaire	6.5 hours	The DEQ will be used to obtain subjective ratings of "pleasant drug effect". Score range from 0 (none) to 100 (extreme) using a 100mm line anchored with none/extreme designation.
Subjective ratings of "urge to smoke" as assessed by the Hughes-Hatsukami Withdrawal Questionnaire	6.5 hours	The HHWS will be used to obtain subjective ratings of "urge to smoke". Score range from 0 (none) to 100 (extreme) using a 100mm line anchored with none/extreme designation.
Subjective ratings of "Like Drug Effect" as assessed by the Drug Effect Questionnaire	6.5 hours	The DEQ will be used to obtain subjective ratings of "like drug effect". Score range from 0 (none) to 100 (extreme) using a 100mm line anchored with none/extreme designation.
Subjective ratings of "craving to smoke" as assessed by the Hughes-Hatsukami Withdrawal Questionnaire	6.5 hours	The HHWS will be used to obtain subjective ratings of "craving to smoke". Score range from 0 (none) to 100 (extreme) using a 100mm line anchored with none/extreme designation.
Subjective ratings of "take again" as assessed by the Drug Effect Questionnaire	6.5 hours	The DEQ will be used to obtain subjective ratings of "take again". Score range from 0 (none) to 100 (extreme) using a 100mm line anchored with none/extreme designation.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Tobacco withdrawal symptoms as assessed by the Tiffany-Drobes QSU brief-Factor 1	6.5 hours	The QSU-brief factor 1 (intention to smoke) measures tobacco withdrawal symptoms using 5 items; scores are summed to produce a single score ranging from 0 to 30
Topography as assessed by the total time of use	2 hours	During the 2 hour ad libitum bout, topography will be collected. The total time of use (out of 2 hours) will be assessed.
The Direct Effects of Nicotine Scale (DENS)	6.5 hours	The DENS will assess nicotine-specific effects. Scores range from 0 (none) to 100 (extreme) using a 100mm line anchored with none/extreme designation.
Negative and aversive effects as assessed by the Drug Effect Questionnaire	6.5 hours	The DEQ will assess subjective ratings for "dislike drug effect". Scores range from 0 (none) to 100 (extreme) using a 100mm line anchored with none/extreme designation.
Tobacco withdrawal symptoms as assessed by the Tiffany-Drobes QSU brief-Factor 2	6.5 hours	The QSU-brief factor 2 (anticipation of relief) measures tobacco withdrawal symptoms using 5 items; scores are summed to produce a single score ranging from 0 to 24
Pharmacokinetics of nicotine as assessed by the Tmax	Up to 6.5 hours	Blood plasma samples will be collected and sent to a designated laboratory for quantitative analysis of nicotine. Time to maximum concentration (Tmax), is the time (in minutes) to reach Cmax. This is another measure relevant for abuse liability.
Perceived strength of effects as assessed by the Drug Effect Questionnaire	6.5 hours	The DEQ will assess subjective ratings for "feel drug effect". Scores range from 0 (none) to 100 (extreme) using a 100mm line anchored with none/extreme designation.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Johns Hopkins Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit; 🇺🇸 Baltimore, Maryland, United States