The proposed research is aimed at characterizing the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics, and clinical pharmacological profiles of lofexidine hydrochloride, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist under development for the treatment of acute withdrawal from short acting opioids. The application revision entails an increased scope for two of the originally planned drug-drug interaction studies and adding intensive ECG monitoring and centralized analysis for the entire program. The research program consists of seven studies, each with a particular objective that will add to the overall understanding of the pharmacology of the investigational drug. The studies include evaluation of (1) absolute bioavailability and mass balance of lofexidine, (2) effect of food on lofexidine's bioavailability, (3 and 4) drug-drug pharmacodynamic interaction with a focus on heart interval interaction effects between lofexidine and methadone or buprenorphine, (5) drug-drug pharmacokinetic interaction of lofexidine and naltrexone (methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone are drugs for related indications that may be used concurrently in a clinical setting), (6) pharmacokinetics of lofexidine in renally-impaired patients, and (7) pharmacokinetics of lofexidine in hepatically-impaired patients. The studies will be conducted in normal, healthy volunteers or special populations (as in the case of the hepatic and renal impairment studies and methadone/buprenorphine interaction studies) and employ appropriate methodology to evaluate levels of lofexidine and related compounds in urine and plasma. Holter monitoring will be used in each study to ensure quality ECG recording and centralized analysis through a specialized core lab. Quantification of lofexidine and/or its major metabolites over time in addition to observed tolerance and evaluation of other clinical parameters in each of the planned studies will add to the overall understanding of the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of lofexidine in the body. This revision application focuses on the change in studies 3 and 4 noted above and the addition of intensive ECG monitoring across the program. This information is needed to allow appropriate labeling of the product for its entrance to the US market. Furthermore, the planned research has been defined by the FDA as critical to complete the clinical pharmacology section requirements for a New Drug Application for lofexidine hydrochloride, approval of which will allow entrance of the first and only non-narcotic, non-addictive drug indicated for the treatment of opiate withdrawal to the US market.
Opioid abuse and dependence is a serious and growing problem in the US, with an estimated 5.2 million nonmedical-related users of prescription opiate pain killers such as Lortab(R) and OxyContin(R) (SAMHSA, 2008), 1 million heroin addicts in the US (National Institutes of Health, 2006), and recent articles suggesting that abuse is spreading into rural and suburban areas (Archibold, 2009). There is an unmet medical need in the opioid-dependent population, with only two FDA-approved drugs (methadone and buprenorphine) currently available to treat opioid withdrawal, which are both opiate products that effectively operate as replacement or substitution therapies, have abuse potential and are themselves controlled substances. FDA approval of lofexidine hydrochloride will enable the entrance of the first non-narcotic, non- addictive product to the market for the treatment of opioi withdrawal, the first hurdle in recovery from opioid dependence. The planned research is required to understand how lofexidine works in the body so that appropriate dosing, meal requirements, the safety of combination with other treatment drugs, and safety considerations for patients with poor liver and kidney functions can be evaluated.
