Nicotinic Acid - Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Receptor Expression

The study will be a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-center, 2 treatment, 3-­way crossover. Subjects will be randomly allocated to a treatment sequence – AAB, ABA or BAA. The two treatments will be:

• Treatment A: 500 mg nicotinic acid (Niacor(R))
• Treatment B: Niacor(R) Placebo

Each trial period will last one day, there will be a wash-out period of at least 2 days between each trial period. Five to seven days after study day 1 of trial period 3 there will be a final safety examination.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Good state of health physically and mentally

Exclusion Criteria:

• Treatment with any other investigational product in the last 60 days before the day of randomization into the study
• Regular use of medication in the last 60 days before the day of randomization into the study except of oral contraceptives in female participants
• Treatment in the 60 days before the day of randomization into the study with any drug known to have a well-defined potential for toxicity to a major organ, or any substance which is known to induce or inhibit hepatic drug metabolism (including general anesthetics)
• Any drug intake (including over-the-counter remedies) in the 2 weeks before the day of randomization into the study, unless the investigator considers a drug intake to be clinically irrelevant for the purpose of this study
• Any acute or chronic illness or clinically relevant findings in the pre-study examination
• Presence, history or sequelae of gastrointestinal (e.g. peptic ulcer), liver or kidney disease, or any other condition known to interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of drugs
• History of hypersensitivity to the investigational product
• History or presence of abnormalities of the vascular bed
• History or presence of a dermatologic disease or skin lesions, particular in the area chosen for flush measurement
• History of allergy or hypersensitivity to other drugs or to food constituents
• History of other allergic diseases or hypersensitivity, unless the investigator considers it to be clinically irrelevant for the purpose of this study
• Blood donation of > 400 ml in the 60 days before the day of randomization into the study
• Smoking
• Positive result in urine screen for drugs of abuse or in alcohol breath test
• Known or suspected to be drug-dependent, including consumption of > 30 g alcohol per day
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Subject is the investigator or any sub-investigator, research assistant, pharmacist, study coordinator, other staff or relative thereof directly involved in the conduct of the protocol
• Mental condition rendering the subject unable to understand the nature, scope, and possible consequences of the study
• Subject unlikely to comply with protocol, e.g., uncooperative attitude, inability to return for follow-up visits, and unlikelihood of completing the study