The effects of a repeated dose of a recombinant humanized anti-cocaine monoclonal antibody on cocaine self-administration in rats

- The effects of two infusions of h2E2 on self-administration behavior were tested.
- H2E2 increased the cocaine priming threshold following both injections.
- H2E2 is a lead candidate for development as an immunotherapy for cocaine abuse.

BackgroundImmunotherapy has shown potential as a treatment for cocaine abuse. The humanized recombinant anti-cocaine monoclonal antibody (mAb) with the preclinical designation h2E2 has been shown to decrease cocaine concentrations in the brain in rats, but its effects on cocaine self-administration behavior have never been tested.MethodsThe amount of cocaine needed to reinstate self-administration behavior (priming threshold) was calculated and the inter-injection intervals at unit doses of 0.3 μmol/kg and 3 μmol/kg during maintained self-administration were measured over a five-week baseline period. Rats trained to self-administer cocaine were infused with two doses of h2E2 (120 mg/kg i.v.) 35 days apart. Priming threshold and inter-injection intervals were measured for 35 days after both injections.ResultsAfter both injections of h2E2, priming thresholds were significantly increased (3-fold) compared to expected baseline and then gradually declined over 35 days. A significant decrease (15-33%) in inter-injection intervals during maintained self-administration was also observed following both h2E2 infusions at the lower dose, and after the first injection at the higher dose. No significant decreases in body weight were observed after either injection, indicating a lack of toxicity following a second injection.ConclusionsThese data predict that the safety and effectiveness of h2E2 will be maintained after multiple treatments of this potential immunotherapy for cocaine abuse.