LGC Standards introduces a certified reference material for banned legal high NRG-1

30-07-2010

LGC Standards adds naphyrone to its library of drug-related chemical reference materials

LGC Standards, Europe's leading supplier of reference materials, has characterised and introduced the first reference material to assist forensic, clinical and toxicology laboratories to identify and quantify the newly classified Class B drug naphthylpyrovalerone (naphyrone).

This material was classified as a Class B drug by the UK Government on Friday 23 July 2010. NRG-1, a product alleged to contain naphyrone was one of the latest materials to be promoted by legal highs vendors as a legal alternative to Ecstasy.

The newly banned material is closely related to pyrovalerone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV). It is a triple monoamine uptake inhibitor, affecting the dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrin systems to produce its psychoactive effects. It is also reported to be particularly potent, requiring doses of only a few tens of milligrams. The risk of overdose amongst users is therefore high.

Characterised at its facilities in Luckenwalde, Germany, LGC Standards is able to provide drug and toxicology laboratories with a reference material for naphyrone, as an addition to its extensive range of designer drug materials which include MDAI and designer cathinones such as mephedrone.

Ric Treble, Scientific Advisor at LGC commented, "To correctly identify legal highs and banned drugs within clinical and forensic settings, it is vital for laboratories to have ready access to reliable reference materials. LGC Standards has been very successful at purifying and characterising the active ingredients, and then producing reference standards for these drugs, allowing laboratories throughout Europe to have access to reliable reference materials very soon after the drugs become available on the streets".

LGC Standards is also in the process of producing a reference material for dimethocaine, and various other novel materials being marketed as legal highs and research chemicals.

For further information on the new naphyrone reference material and other available products, please contact LGC Standards by email: askus@lgcstandards.com or tel: +44 (0)20 8943 8480. Supply of this product is subject to ownership of correct controlled drugs licenses.

Further information on legal highs can be found at: http://www.talktofrank.com/drugs.aspx?id=3597

Notes to editors

About LGC Standards
LGC Standards (www.lgcstandards.com) provides products and services to improve measurement and quality control within the laboratory, and is part of LGC, whose Science & Technology Division acts as the UK National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurements. LGC Standards supplies over 20,000 reference materials, pharmaceutical impurity reference standards, proficiency testing and training in analytical quality. LGC Standards is headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. Its global centre for excellence in proficiency testing is located in Bury (Greater Manchester). LGC Standards has offices in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, China, Russia and the UK, a joint venture presence in India, and representatives in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Romania, Turkey and the US.

About LGC
LGC (www.lgc.co.uk) is an international science-based company and market leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services and reference standards. A progressive and innovative enterprise, LGC operates in socially responsible fields underpinning the safety, health and security of the public and the regulation of industry, for UK government departments and blue chip clients.

LGC operates internationally through four divisions - LGC Forensics, LGC Genomics, LGC Standards and LGC Science & Technology, which includes specialist laboratories delivering contracts for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and supporting LGC's designated role as the UK's National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalytical measurement.

Our operations are extensively accredited to international quality standards such as ISO 17025. With headquarters in Teddington, South West London, the LGC Group employs 1500 staff in 28 laboratories and centres across Europe and at sites in India, China and the US. Privatised in 1996 and now majority-owned by funds managed by Bridgepoint, LGC was founded almost 170 years ago as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist - a statutory function maintained by LGC today.