Evaluation of the oral human abuse potential of Oxycodone DETERx® formulation (Xtampza® ER)

Objective: To further characterize the human abuse potential and pharmacokinetics (PK) of Oxycodone DETERx (Xtampza ® ER) after intact and chewed oral administration. Design: Randomized, double-blind, triple-dummy, active- and placebo-controlled, single-dose, six-period, crossover comparison study. Setting: Clinical research unit. Subjects: Adult, nondependent recreational opioid users who liked the effects of crushed immediate-release (IR) oxycodone in solution and were able to differentiate the effects from placebo solution. Interventions: Oral administration of intact Oxycodone DETERx (fasted and fed), chewed Oxycodone DETERx (fasted and fed), crushed IR oxycodone (fasted), and placebo (fed). Main Outcome Measures: Subject ratings (100-point visual analog scales) of Drug Liking (primary measure) and Take Drug Again (key secondary measure). Results: The pharmacodynamic (PD) analysis included 52 subjects who completed the study; the PK analysis included 71 subjects. Compared with crushed IR oxycodone fasted, the least-squares mean maximum effect (Emax) was statistically significant (p < 0.01) for Drug Liking and Take Drug Again, respectively, for chewed Oxycodone DETERx fasted (LS mean difference ± standard error of the mean: 13.1 ± 2.2 and 10.0 ± 3.2 points) and fed (10.9 ± 2.2 and 9.7 ± 3.3 points) and intact Oxycodone DETERx fasted (12.2 ± 2.2 and 9.3 ± 3.3 points) and fed (10.3 ± 2.2 and 9.2 ± 3.3 points). Results were consistent for other PD measures (Good Effects, Feeling High). Chewed Oxycodone DETERx fasted and fed treatments were bioequivalent to the respective intact treatments based on PK parameters. Conclusions: This study showed that when chewed or swallowed intact, under fasted or fed conditions, Oxycodone DETERx had statistically significantly lower abuse potential via the oral route compared with IR oxycodone.