{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T07:58:45Z","timestamp":1790409525642,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Wiley","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790380800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790380800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of Forensic Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Multiple new analogues from the 2\u2010benzyl benzimidazole or \u201cnitazene\u201d class of drugs have emerged on the drug market in recent years. Nitazenes are highly potent \u03bc\u2010opioid receptor agonists that present a substantial public health concern due to their elevated risk of severe toxicity in overdose and their significant potential for misuse. We report on a case involving an overdose with another new analogue from this class, protodesnitazene. The drug has a similar potency to fentanyl and has not been previously reported in toxicology specimens or drug seizures. Protodesnitazene was initially identified by LC\u2010QTOF\u2013HRMS (High Resolution Mass Spectrometry) and distinguished from relevant isomers by chromatographic separation, with spectral and retention time matching against reference standards. A quantitation method employing solid phase extraction using mixed mode cartridges and utilizing LC\u2013MS\/MS operating in MRM mode was developed and partially validated for non\u2010routine analyses. Concentrations for the parent drug were determined in a range of postmortem matrices and femoral blood levels (77\u2013222\u2009ng\/mL) were found to be comparable to previously identified desnitazene compounds. Protodesnitazene was observed to metabolize extensively by N\u2010dealkylation, O\u2010dealkylation, and hydroxylation. Glucuronides were not present at high levels in the blood but were prominent in the urine. Protodesnitazene was also identified in an associated seized powder.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/1556-4029.70478","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]],"date-time":"2026-09-26T07:04:50Z","timestamp":1790406290000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Protodesnitazene: The identification and tissue distribution of a new nitazene"],"prefix":"10.1111","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1428-3406","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrew","family":"Griffiths","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Pathology and Coronial Services Queensland Health  Brisbane Queensland Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3186-5165","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nathan","family":"Milne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Forensic Pathology, Forensic Pathology and Coronial Services Queensland Health  Brisbane Queensland Australia"},{"name":"Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland  Brisbane Queensland Australia"},{"name":"Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University  Gold Coast Queensland Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-6945-9884","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Michelle","family":"Johnston","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Pathology and Coronial Services Queensland Health  Brisbane Queensland Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3806-3977","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Karen","family":"Blakey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Justice Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Science Queensland  Brisbane Queensland Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rogan","family":"Scott","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Forensic Toxicology, Forensic Pathology and Coronial Services Queensland Health  Brisbane Queensland Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_11_2_1","unstructured":"United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.World drug report 2025. 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[press release]. Adelaide South Australia: Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia2023."},{"key":"e_1_2_11_15_1","unstructured":"Protonitazene sold as ketamine. [press release]. Melbourne Victoria: Victorian Department of Health;2022. [cited 2026 Aug 31]. Available from:https:\/\/www.health.vic.gov.au\/sites\/default\/files\/2022\u201006\/protonitazene\u2010sold\u2010as\u2010ketamine.docx"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_16_1","unstructured":"Metonitazene sold as cocaine [press release]. Melbourne Victoria: Victorian Department of Health;2023. [cited 2026 Aug 31]. Available from:https:\/\/www.health.vic.gov.au\/drug\u2010alerts\/metonitazene\u2010mis\u2010sold\u2010as\u2010cocaine"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_17_1","unstructured":"Fake Xanax\u00ae tablets containing a strong opioid [press release]. Brisbane Queensland: Queensland Health;2023. [cited 2026 Aug 31]. 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[cited 2026 Mar 3]. Available from:https:\/\/www.unodc.org\/LSS\/Home\/NPS"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_22_1","unstructured":"Canadian drug analysis service and cannabis laboratory drug report 2026\u201001\u201030. [cited 2026 Feb 23]. Available from:https:\/\/health\u2010infobase.canada.ca\/."},{"key":"e_1_2_11_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/dta.3377"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00204\u2010024\u201003735\u20100"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_25_1","unstructured":"Queensland Drug Warning Clinical Alert.New nitazene (strong opioid) protodesnitazene detected.2025. [cited 2026 Jan 27]. 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