Project: Fingerprint Recording in Opiate Substitution Treatment - Non-invasive Diagnostic Monitoring

>>Definitions – DOA (drugs of abuse); OST (opioid substitution treatment); IFP (Intelligent Fingerprinting Ltd); cassette (a single-use, disposable receptacle used for capturing a fingerprint for analysis).<<_x000D__x000D_Fingerprint Recording in Opiate Substitution Treatment - Non-invasive Diagnostic Monitoring_x000D__x000D_Opioid substitution treatment (OST) is widespread and generally successful in COtaining the health of opioid addicted patients. Typical treatments include methadone and buprenorphine substitution of heroin. Unfortunately, illicit diversion of these opiate substitutes is widespread and difficult to avoid. Methods of achieving better control relating to the compliance of patients in substitution treatment programs and avoiding drug diversion have been largely unsuccessful until now. A new method of detecting drugs of abuse and their substitutes (Intelligent Fingerprinting™ - see www.intelligentfingerprinting.com) will be used to monitor the metabolites of opioid substitutes in the fingerprint deposits of patients as a non-invasive mechanism of determining both compliance and metabolism as determined by the presence or absence of these metabolites in the fingerprint sweat itself. _x000D__x000D_Intelligent Fingerprinting uses fingerprint deposits to test for drugs of abuse metabolites and as such benefits from being both fast and non-invasive. Screening results are available in 10 minutes. Use of fingerprints also confirms the client/patient identities. Confirming donor identity will further improve safety and compliance_x000D__x000D_The consortium will follow two CO methods of investigation. _x000D_(i) Strategies will be developed and prototyped to extend the Intelligent Fingerprinting technique by creation of specific, new assays for trial use in addiction clinics and in the home for monitoring compliance. Comparisons will be made to other drug screening methods. New prototypes will be created and evaluated for use in detecting the presence or absence of these metabolites in fingerprints of patients recruited into substitution programmes in Finland by project Ps in Kuopio University Hospital (specialists in addiction medicine, monitoring and compliance). Prototype devices will be created which will be capable of using fingerprints to detect medications, given to individuals and to show compliance based on detection of the drug metabolites. This study will drive creation of commercialisable point-of-care solutions for the management of opioid substitution patients in the community._x000D_(ii) Elsewhere in the programme, determination of the rate of absorption (kinetics) of these drugs, their metabolism and clearance from the body will be determined using the intelligent fingerprinting method in comparison with urine, oral fluid and blood screening. This study will drive better monitoring of the dosing, and ensure the safer use of opioid substitution treatments. Dosing and compliance testing is especially important in opioid substitute naïve patients (first-time users) where the risk of death is at least threefold higher than during the ongoing COtenance program itself. (Cornish et al. BMJ 2010, 341:c5475)._x000D__x000D_Commercialisation of resulting technology will be driven by the consortium and its distribution Ps. _x000D_Protection of foreground IP will be undertaken._x000D_Publication of the results of this study will be undertaken jointly by the consortium in clinics linked to Kuopio University Hospital._x000D__x000D_Technological and market areas impacted by this project: _x000D_• non-invasive, point of care in vitro diagnostics, _x000D_• drug addiction treatment _x000D_• telemedicine real-time diagnostics monitoring & reporting_x000D__x000D_The project will have positive impact in many sectors:_x000D_• drug rehabilitation centres_x000D_• health services and hospitals_x000D_• prison services_x000D_• pharmaceutical companies – for monitoring OST compliance_x000D_• criminal justice organisations including police forces and courts_x000D_• payors, insurance companies and healthcare system budget holders_x000D__x000D__x000D_

Acronym	FR-OST (Reference Number: 8510)
Duration	01/02/2014 - 30/05/2016
Project Topic	This project will implement methods of non-invasive diagnostic monitoring using intelligent fingerprinting improving opioid substitution treatment by increasing client compliance and reducing drug diversion to illicit markets
Network	Eurostars
Call	Eurostars Cut-Off 10

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
4	ADDOZ Oy	Partner	Finland
4	Intelligent Fingerprinting Ltd	Coordinator	United Kingdom
4	Kuopio University Hospital/addiction psychiatry unit	Observer	Finland
4	University of Eastern Finland	Partner	Finland