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Pharmacodynamic/Pharmacokinetic Study of AQW051 in Schizophrenia

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Schizophrenia
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT00825539
Lead Sponsor
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Brief Summary

Part 1 of the study will assess the enhancement of task-related brain activation (BOLD response) in key brain areas in schizophrenia during the performance of working memory, episodic memory and visual activation tasks as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in people with schizophrenia. Part 2 of the study will assess the safety and tolerability of multiple doses of AQW051 in people with schizophrenia.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
68
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM IV/DSM IV TR)

  2. Subjects will be currently treated with the stable regimen of one or more of the following second generation antipsychotics: olanzapine, risperidone, paliperidone, quetiapine, ziprasidone, aripiprazole.

  3. Subjects will meet the following symptom criteria:

    • Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) Hallucinatory Behavior or Unusual Thought Content item scores less than or equal to 5
    • BPRS Conceptual Disorganization item score less than or equal to 4
    • Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS) total score less than or equal to 6
    • Calgary Depression Scale (CDS) total score less than or equal to 10
  4. Subjects will meet the following cognitive performance criteria:

    • Maximum performance level: Performance below 1.0 SD from perfect performance on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) total (31 or less),
    • Minimum performance level: subject must be able to validly complete the fMRI cognitive paradigms
    • WTAR: 5th grade reading level assessment
  5. Subjects must be symptomatically stable and not suffer from an acute exacerbation of their psychosis

  6. Female subjects of childbearing potential must be using two acceptable methods of contraception, (e.g., intra-uterine device plus condom, spermicidal gel plus condom, diaphragm plus condom, etc.), from the time of screening and for the duration of the study, through study completion. Pregnancy tests are required of all female subjects regardless of reported sterilization.

    When performed at screening and practice visit, the result of this test must be received before the subject may be dosed.

  7. Male subjects must be using two acceptable methods of contraception, (e.g., spermicidal gel plus condom) for the entire duration of the studyuntil the Study Completion visit.

  8. Subject must have sufficiently stable overall health, as determined by the Investigator. The regular intake of concomitant drugs will be allowed, if the patient is on stable treatment for at least 3 months prior to study enrollment and the concomitant drug does not belong to the list of medication that are not allowed according to Appendix 3. If the patient takes more than one concomitant medication, it is at the Investigator's discretion to decide about the patient's eligibility, depending on the nature of the concomitant medications and the patient's overall health.

Exclusion criteria:

  1. Current treatment with conventional antipsychotics (e.g. fluphenazine, haloperidol) or clozapine

  2. Current treatment with an anticholinergic or other agent known to adversely interfere with the cholinergic system

  3. Subjects with a DSM-IV diagnosis of substance abuse (other than nicotine) within the last month.

  4. Subjects with a history of significant head injury/trauma, as defined by:

    • Loss of consciousness (LOC) for more than 1 hour
    • Recurring seizures resulting from the head injury
    • Clear cognitive sequelae of the injury
    • Cognitive rehabilitation following the injury
  5. Subjects with a medical or neurological disorder or treatment for such disorder that could interfere with the study medication of the assessment of the subject

  6. Use of certain concomitant medication

No grapefruit or grapefruit juice is to be consumed for 14 days prior to dosing until 7 days following the last dose.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlaceboPlacebo-
AQW051AQW051-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Part 1: Assess BOLD response in key brain areas in schizophrenia patients during the performance of tasks as measured by (fMRI) in people with schizophrenia.2 years (Part 1: 1 year)
Part 2: Assess safety and tolerability of multiple doses of AQW051 schizophrenia patients.Part 2: 8 months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Measure: To determine the dose-exposure response relationship of multiple doses of AQW051 in people with schizophrenia. (Part 2)2 years (Part 1: 1 year; Part 2: 8 months)
Measure: To explore effects of multiple doses of AQW051 on measures of cognition in people with schizophrenia. (Part 2)2 years (Part 1: 1 year; Part 2: 8 months)
Measure: To assess the effects of a single dose of AQW051 on performance of working and episodic memory tasks in people with schizophrenia. (Part 1)Time Frame: 2 years (Part 1: 1 year; Part 2: 8 months)
Measure: To determine the relationship of exposure to brain activation after a single dose of AQW051 in people with schizophrenia. (Part 1)2 years (Part 1: 1 year; Part 2: 8 months)

Trial Locations

Locations (7)

Massachusetts General Hospital (Freedom Trail Clinic)

🇺🇸

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Maryland Psychiatric Research Centre, Spring Grove Hospital Grounds

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine (Northwestern University)

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Washington University

🇺🇸

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Columbia University

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

JUH Clinical Research (Duke University),

🇺🇸

Butner, North Carolina, United States

West LA VA Healthcare Center (UCLA)

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

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