A non-addictive form of cocaine? A potential therapy awaits
2012
Challenge
Cocaine addiction is a chronic and relapsing disorder that affects millions worldwide The Lancet - Addiction, exerting a toll in lives lost, families torn, and communities destroyed. No medications are currently available to treat cocaine addiction.
Advance
IRP and international researchers led by Amy Hauck Newman, Ph.D., discovered that R-modafinil, like cocaine, inhibits dopamine uptake, but binds to the dopamine transporter in a unique fashion that may not result in the same addictive response as cocaine.
Impact
Molecular and preclinical pharmacological findings support translation of R-modafinil studies to clinical trials in the cocaine-abusing population as a potential treatment.
Publications
Loland CJ, Mereu M, Okunola OM, Cao J, Prisinzano TE, Mazier S, Kopajtic T, Shi L, Katz JL, Tanda G, Newman AH. (2012). R-modafinil (armodafinil): a unique dopamine uptake inhibitor and potential medication for psychostimulant abuse. Biol Psychiatry., 72(5), 405-13.
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