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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Sep 12

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
👇

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Reposted by Christophe Stove

Karen Blakey @karenblakey.bsky.social · Sep 4

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...

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Sep 6

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-...

https://talkingdrugs.org/will-chinas-ni…

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Sep 6

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...

In Vitro Metabolic Profiling of 18 Semi-Synthetic Cannabinoids—Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and Its Analogs—with Identification in an Authentic Hexahydrocannabiphorol (HHCP) Urine Sample

AbstractBackground. Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) and its analogs are recent additions to semi-synthetic cannabinoids in the recreational drug market. Here, th

academic.oup.com

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Aug 7

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/...

pubs.acs.org

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Jun 30

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/...

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Reposted by Christophe Stove

Unsplintering.bsky.social @unsplintering.bsky.social · Jun 15

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...

Nitazenes: The synthetic opioid you've never heard of killing Brits

YouTube video by PoliticsJOE

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Christophe Stove

CGTN @www.cgtn.com · Jun 20

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.

China adds new substances to drug control list

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 imid...

news.cgtn.com

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Reposted by Christophe Stove

Eric Szeto @ericszeto.bsky.social · Jun 23

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

Worse than fentanyl: How smugglers get a new, deadly drug into Canada

YouTube video by CBC News

www.youtube.com

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Reposted by Christophe Stove

Canada Healthwatch 🍁 @canadahealthwatch.ca · Jun 20

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

A composite image shows one method a drug seller told CBC News they could conceal nitazines in a teapot, as well as an online ad advertising a type of nitazene on LinkedIn.

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Jun 16

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

News: June 2025 - UNODC: CND decision on international control of four nitazenes enters into force

Portal of the UNODC ICE Programme

bit.ly

Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Jun 8

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

Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · May 21

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...

www.sciencedirect.com

Reposted by Christophe Stove

Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Apr 18

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...

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Reposted by Christophe Stove

Geekoo @geekoo.news · May 10

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

Instant Test Device Could Revolutionize Street Drug Safety

A new handheld device developed at the University of Bath can instantly detect toxic synthetic opioids in street drugs, offering a powerful tool for harm reduction and overdose prevention.

geekoo.news

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Reposted by Christophe Stove

Guy Jones @ukguyjones.bsky.social · May 8

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...

Groundbreaking device instantly detects dangerous street drugs, offering hope for harm reduction

A portable device that detects illicit street drugs on the spot and at very low concentrations, highlighting the dangers they pose, has been developed at Bath.

www.bath.ac.uk

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Apr 18

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...

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Apr 5

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...

Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Apr 5

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...

Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Apr 3

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

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Apr 3

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!

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Apr 1

(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 😉.
🤞🤞🤞

Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Mar 25

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/...

Blood phosphatidylethanol measurements indicate GLP‐1 receptor stimulation causes delayed decreases in alcohol consumption

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are effective for treating obesity (BMI ≥30) and are being investigated as a novel treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). This secondary analys...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Mar 25

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

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Christophe Stove @christophestove.bsky.social · Mar 20

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!
👏👏👏

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