Piece in The Economist on 'nitazenes' - their emergence, current presence, and on what may be next. ▪️With referral to our 2021 publication (pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...), reporting the high opioid activity of the isotonitazene metabolite N-Desethyl isotonitazene ▪️With quotes by Marthe Vandeputte 👇

Have known so many people opposed to the idea of drug checking who, after learning more about it, see that it's about reducing harm. Listening to experts, learning new things, seeing different perspectives. Brisbane drug checking return paused for now. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

Following up on a 1st part on China’s new generic ban on nitazene analogues, #TalkingDrugs now has a 2nd part out, exploring what to expect and how this ban may play out in the coming years: Will China’s Nitazenes Ban Work? (incl. interview w. Marthe Vandeputte) www.talkingdrugs.org/will-chinas-...

Recently out in #ClinChem & worth a read: Watanabe and colleagues, "In Vitro Metabolic Profiling of 18 Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids—Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and Its Analogs—with Identification in an Authentic Hexahydrocannabiphorol (HHCP) Urine Sample" academic.oup.com/clinchem/adv...

A lot of hard work went into this 🔑 publication from Axelle Timmerman's PhD: Setup and Evaluation of the TRACT Assay Principle for the In Vitro Functional Characterization of Modulators of the Serotonin Transporter and the Serotonin 2A Receptor 👏👏 Now out in Anal. Chem.: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

As of July 1st there's a 'nitazene ban' in China. Based on previous bans (fentanyls & synth cannabinoids), a large impact is expected on the NPS drug market. Move to: ❓️India / elsewhere ❓️ban-evading nitazenes ❓️other / new classes (e.g. 'orphines') ❓️precursors ❓️... english.scio.gov.cn/m/pressroom/...

Nitazenes, a synthetic opioid with similar effects to heroin or fentanyl - but much deadlier in potency, have entered Birmingham’s drug supply, causing a crisis with hundreds of overdoses www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbvm...

China's anti-narcotics authorities have added nitazenes and 12 other psychoactive substances to the country's list of controlled drugs following the emergence of new alternatives to nitazenes and imidates, and after 46 new psychotropic substances were scheduled last July.

We tracked how a synthetic opioid 40x more powerful than fentanyl is smuggled into Canada. With open-source support from investigators at @bellingcat.com we found hundreds of ads for nitazenes posted online. Within minutes of responding to the ads, we were talking to criminals. tiny.cc/n6rn001

Deadly opioid 40 times more powerful than fentanyl smuggled into Canada inside PlayStations, basketballs https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nitazene-online-ads-1.7564656 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca

Four potent synthetic opioids are now under international control: 1. N-pyrrolidino protonitazene 2. N-pyrrolidino metonitazene 3. Etonitazepipne 4. N-desethyl isotonitazene Controls took effect 9 June. Read more here (#UNODC Forensic Services): bit.ly/4e25Ifk

Final published version of "LC-MS/MS-based determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in dried blood spots: crucial importance of combining a robust extraction with knowledge of the hematocrit", by Liesl Heughebaert, is now available! 📃 50 days free access via authors.elsevier.com/a/1lE92lYftMvY

Accepted in #AnalyticaChimicaActa: L. Heughebaert et al., "LC-MS/MS-based determination of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in dried blood spots: crucial importance of combining a robust extraction with knowledge of the hematocrit". A challenging but successful endeavor. 🙌 👏 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Navigating nitazenes: A pharmacological and toxicological overview of new synthetic opioids with a 2-benzylbenzimidazole core" by Marthe Vandeputte now out in #Neuropharmacology. Quoting one of the reviewers: "a go-to for pharmacologists studying these drugs". www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

A new pocket-sized device can instantly detect deadly street drugs like nitazenes—offering a breakthrough in overdose prevention. #HarmReduction #DrugSafety #PublicHealthTech

Similar to an ultraviolet spectrometer, it allows drugs to be tested cheaply and at volume. The rapid analysis reveals the contents of a mix and the concentration of some ingredients. #nitazene #SCRA #UVFluorescence #spectroscopy #openaccess www.bath.ac.uk/announcement...

Navigating nitazenes: A pharmacological and toxicological overview of new synthetic opioids with a 2-benzylbenzimidazole core" by Marthe Vandeputte now out in #Neuropharmacology. Quoting one of the reviewers: "a go-to for pharmacologists studying these drugs". www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Van 30 mei - 1 juni vindt in Hulst het festival #VESTROCK plaats. Op VESTROCK UNIVERSITY zal ik, net als andere UGent’ers (Ernst Koster, Nele Vandersickel en Tijl De Bie), een bijdrage leveren. No worries: geen zang, wel een lezing mbt toxicologie 😉. www.ugent.be/nl/actueel/u...

In today's noon poster session at #ASPET2025: "Nitazenes of the past, present and future: insights from in vitro mu-opioid receptor assays and in vivo behavioral assays in mice." Based on work by Marthe Vandeputte, 🤝 w. DDRU @ NIH, Cayman Chemical, I. Ujvary. 📃: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Happy to have arrived in #Oregon for my 1st #ASPET meeting (there's a first for everything 😉). Thanks to the @britpharmsoc.bsky.social for inviting me & looking fwd to co-chairing (& presenting at) the Fri 4/4 15:30 session on clinical pharmacology for treatment optimization. #ASPET2025

Interesting visit to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of San Francisco earlier today. Truly impressive. Thanks good colleague & friend Luke Rodda (& team!) for the kind hospitality!

(Re)submitted a research project to the Fund for Scientific Research, #FWO @fwovlaanderen.bsky.social, from high in the sky - above Canada - on my way to San Francisco & Portland (#ASPET). 🙌 to my postdoc Marthe Vandeputte for taking the lead in writing! Let's hope it'll be warmly received 😉. 🤞🤞🤞

Just published in Alcohol Clin Exp Res & now open access available: Jensen et al., "Blood phosphatidylethanol measurements indicate GLP-1 receptor stimulation causes delayed decreases in alcohol consumption". onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Amine Larabi & Sarah Wille, Presidents of the #SFTA and #BLT, respectively, opening the joint SFTA-BLT scientific meeting "aux pieds du Mont Blanc", in Chamonix. @sfta.bsky.social

And the #ResearchDay2025 #ugent was also the moment when prizes for the best PhD of 2024 of the respective Faculties were awarded. Proud that Marthe Vandeputte was the recipient of the PhD Thesis Prize from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences! 👏👏👏

🌟Vandaag vindt onze Research Day plaats samen met de faculteiten Diergeneeskunde en Farmaceutische Wetenschappen. Nog tot 17u ben je welkom op Campus Merelbeke voor een boeiende dag vol kennisdeling! Zien we jou daar? 👋 #ResearchDay2025

Hans Nauwynck enthusiastically opening the @ugent #ResearchDay2025, a joint initiative of the Fac. of Veterinary Sciences (this year's host), Fac. of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Fac. of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Up to a day of #ugent research & networking!

In Torino for the PhD defense of Christina Ververi (on microsampling applications in toxicology) & to provide a lecture on "Dried blood microsamples in toxicology & therapeutic drug monitoring: applications & automation". Good to meet with TIAFT colleagues Alberto Salomone (promotor) & Luca Morini!

Latest publ: Marie Deventer et al., "Identification and Investigation of the Intrinsic Receptor Activation Potential and Metabolization of the New Oxo-Pyridyl Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist CH-FUBBMPDORA". #openaccess in DTA: analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

VIENNA, Austria – 4 February 2025: The UNODC Early Warning Advisory on New Psychoactive Substances has evidence of the emergence of nitazenes on a global scale. At this point in time, there are strong signals for a further spread of this group of synthetic opioids. 👇 www.unodc.org/LSS/Announce...

"Most nitazene cases reviewed involved hospitalization, had high naloxone dosing, and relatively long LOS. Differences in naloxone dose and hospital length of stay could underscore the unpredictable and potent nature of these substances." 👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Must admit that I do like all-weather-bike-to-the-lab-rides ❄️❄️❄️

"We are in a Constitutional crisis whether we like it or not, the worst of my own lifetime by far, and the more voices that are raised against it all, the better. That's what we can do for now. If it gets worse, it gets worse, and we'll revisit the topic, God help us." 👇

"If anything is forbidden now, it is that medical and science journals, whose duty is to stand for integrity and equity, should bow to political or ideological censorship." 👇

"Trump and the tech bros: demagogues of harm to human and planetary health" - Editorial in the #BMJ: www.bmj.com/content/388/...

A new study from Australia has confirmed that people who’ve ingested nitazenes are often unaware of it, and that naloxone is effective for reversing overdoses involving nitazenes onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

You can find our partner Postimees reporting on this issue here: news.postimees.ee/8175100/nita...

Interesting investigative journalism on the evolving #nitazene market (with confirmed links to China) from @bellingcat.com & Postimees 👇.

Bioassays could be used to detect the biological effects of doping substances, regardless of their chemical structure. This review examines research on activity-based assays to detect doping substances, including strengths & limitations of this approach. 🚫💊 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Wishing you a year filled with kindness and glassatleasthalffullness 🥂! Best wishes for a prosperous 2025 from the Team of the #UGent #UGent_Pharma Laboratory of Toxicology!

Stunning free #science vector art for your next poster, paper or talk 🤩 The #NIH has compiled over 2,000 illustrations including swatches and pattern brushes bioart.niaid.nih.gov #rstats #dataviz #phd #illustration

⚠️WARNING!⚠️ 19 Dec 2024 Following testing by our scientists, a #harmreduction #warning, has been issued by #Greater #Manchester Drugs Early Warning System Important #medical & #welfare guidance for #nitazene #intoxication Stay safe and if unwell please seek medical attention

Check out our new publication on the pharmacological characterization of novel, "prophetic" nitazene synthetic #opioids - some of which were found to be more potent than #fentanyl! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

New pub in ACSChemNeurosci comparing 5-HT1A & 5-HT2A activities & target profiles of #5MeODMT analogs Variable activities at 1A/2A modulated #psychedelic -like effects in mice, and 1A preferring hybrid 1A/2A drugs may have attenuated subjective effects in humans. pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

By the way, nitazene test strips work! This recent study came back with no false negatives. Encourage your local harm reduction and public health orgs to distribute nitazene test strips! pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39198843/ 🧪

China is a source of nitazenes. pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/feat...

If you're unfamiliar with the term "nitazenes," now is a good time to learn. They're a new class of synthetic opioid that can be up to 40x more potent than fentanyl. In Chicago last month, 7 people in were hospitalized in a single day due to nitazene overdoses. Thread 🧪

12 examples of "nitazenes" sent to WEDINOS.org from all over the UK in last 3 months (123 examples in 2024 so far). Intended purchase was usually Diazepam, Oxycodone or Heroin. Most recent person however had intended to buy the nitazene. I just hope they know it's hard to judge a non-fatal dose.