New Medical Therapies™

Substance Abuse

April 11, 2005

Alkermes reported positive results of a phase III trial of Vivitrex (naltrexone long-acting injection), for the treatment of alcohol dependence. Data met their primary endpoint, producing a significant reduction in the incidence of heavy drinking vs. placebo (p=0.0245). Efficacy was also seen in a number of secondary endpoints in the highest dosing group, including reduction in median number of heavy drinking days per month (3, vs. 19 for placebo), and a reduction of heavy drinking (5 or more drinks per day for men, 4 or more for women) within the first month of treatment. Adverse events were generally mild and decreased over the course of treatment, with injection site reactions occurring most frequently. This multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 624 subjects with a history of alcohol dependence, who were randomized to receive once monthly injections of Vivitrex 380 mg (n=205), Vivitrex 190 mg (n=210), or a placebo (n=209) for 6 months, in addition to low-intensity supportive counseling.

January 13, 2003

DrugAbuse Sciences reported positive results from a phase III trial investigating a sustained release formulation of Naltrexone Depot for the treatment of alcoholism. Results showed that after six months of treatment with the drug subjects were approximately four times less likely to drink heavily and approximately eight times more likely to avoid alcohol altogether than those compared to placebo and psychotherapy. Subjects from 29 treatment sites throughout the U.S. were treated with five sessions of motivational enhancement therapy over the first 12 weeks in the study.