Cannabinoid drug tested for aggression in disabled adults
NCT ID NCT05273320
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This early-phase trial tested the safety of nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid, in 20 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have severe aggression. The goal was to see if the drug is well-tolerated and to gather initial data on whether it might reduce aggressive behavior. Results will help design larger, more definitive studies.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Nabilone (a synthetic cannabinoid similar to THC)
- What this could lead to
- If safe and effective, this could point toward a new treatment option for severe aggression in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small Phase 1 trial with only 20 participants and no placebo group. It primarily tests safety, not effectiveness, so results may not lead to a proven treatment.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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20 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2022
- Finished
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Aug 2025
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: Participants of any sex or gender, race or ethnicity meeting all criteria listed below will be included in the study: 1. Aged ≥25 years, as medical cannabis should not be used in any person aged \<25 as suggested by Health Canada. 2. Adults with a DSM-5 diagnosis of ID meeting: a. Full scale IQ \<70 on a standardized cognitive assessment reported in their prior medical record; b. A deficit in adaptive function in at least one activity of life, as estimated by the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, rated by the caregiver. For those whose verified records are not available, they are deemed eligible if they are connected with Disability Services Ontario. People with ID and other developmental disabilities, e.g., autism, Down syndrome, genetic conditions such as Angelman syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, etc., will also be enrolled. 3. SBP, including aggressive, disruptive, and/or self-injurious behaviours in any situation (home, day program, clinic, etc.), defined as a score ≥18 on the Aberrant Behaviour Checklist-Irritability subscale (ABC-I), and a score ≥4 on the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity scale. A consistent pattern of frequent SBP should occur for \>3 months ≥1 time per week. 4. Sexually active women of child-bearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test at the screening visit. 5. Sexually active women of child-bearing must use an effective method of birth control at least from the start of last two normal menses before the screening visit to one month after the end of the study (completion of the safety visit). The accepted methods of contraception include total sexual abstinence, if it is the usual and preferred lifestyle, or consistently and correctly taking the oral hormonal contraceptive. 6. Adults who receive a blood test in recent 12 months, which shows liver function test with the ALT ≤3 times the upper limit of normal and bilirubin ≤2 times the upper limit of normal. 7. At least one month that needs to pass from the participation in another investigational drug trial to a given adults being allowed to participate in this trial. Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of hypersensitivity to any cannabinoid. 2. The presence of an unstable seizure disorder as defined by having not been seizure-free for at least 3 months or anticonvulsant treatment has not been stable for at least 4 weeks. 3. The presence of any clinically significant or unstable medical conditions, including cardiovascular, liver, kidney, pulmonary disease, presence of known congenital brain malformation, as per investigator assessment based on medical history and chart review. 4. The presence of a lifetime diagnosis of psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorder, or current diagnosis of major depressive disorder or dementia, based on past psychiatric history noted in the medical chart, as well as Moss-PAS (ID) at S-V. 5. Family history of psychotic disorders. 6. Change in psychotropic medications less than 4 weeks prior to study drug use. 7. At the time of screening, each adult's medication list will be checked for drugs that are known to cause interactions with nabilone. When a given adult is taking any drugs or is taking a given medication exceeding a given dose) in the following list, he/she/they will be excluded. 1. Currently on benzodiazepines at the dose more than the benzodiazepine equivalent to lorazepam 2 mg daily. 2. Currently on medical psychostimulant, including methylphenidate (100 mg daily), lisdexamfetamine (70 mg daily), amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall XR®, 50 mg daily), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®, 50 mg daily) at the dose exceeding their respective maximum doses (as shown in the bracket after each agent) to treat ADHD in adults, based on the CADDRA guideline, www.caddra.ca. 3. Currently on nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics, including zaleplon (10 mg daily), zolpidem (10 mg daily), and zopiclone (7.5 mg daily), at the dose exceeding their respective suggested safety doses (as shown in the bracket after each agent), based on Canadian Recalls and Safety Alerts (https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/). 4. Currently on any opioids. 5. Currently on barbiturates. 6. Drinking any alcohol one week before the screening visit. 7. Recreational use of any psychomimetic drugs, including Ketamine, LSD, MDMA, Magic mushrooms, PCP, Salvia, GHB, Bath salts, Methamphetamine; the last use happens within one week before the screening visit. 8. Adults currently taking other cannabinoids, such as CBD or medical cannabis, from another source, unless participants and/or their caregivers are willing to stop this treatment for at least 4 weeks prior to entering the study. 9. Adults who might travel out of the area for a significant time during the study. 10. Adults who recently are participating in another investigational drug trial. 11. Pregnancy. 12. Sexually active women of child-bearing potential intended to give breastfeeding or to get pregnant.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1H4, Canada
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