Biomarker Assessment of Glutamatergic Target Engagement

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the relative feasibility of 2 potential functional measures of target engagement (Glx MRS, BOLD fMRI) to systematically assess mGluR 2/3 in drug development for psychotic spectrum disorders.

Intervention / Treatment

  • Ketamine (DRUG)
    intravenous infusion of saline solution with ketamine
  • Normal saline (DRUG)
    Normal saline will be used for placebo in this group

Condition or Disease

  • Healthy Controls

Phase

  • Phase 4
  • Study Design

    Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
    Status: Completed
    Study results: No Results Available
    Age: 18 Years to 55 Years
    Enrollment: 65 (ACTUAL)
    Funded by: Other|NIH
    Allocation: Randomized
    Primary Purpose: Treatment

    Masking

    TRIPLE:
    • Participant
    • Investigator
    • Outcomes Assessor

    Clinical Trial Dates

    Start date: May 01, 2014
    Primary Completion: Oct 01, 2015 ACTUAL
    Completion Date: Nov 01, 2015 ACTUAL
    Study First Posted: May 09, 2014 ESTIMATED
    Results First Posted: Feb 13, 2018 ACTUAL
    Last Updated: Aug 15, 2018

    Sponsors / Collaborators

    Responsible Party: N/A

    This is a pilot study of healthy subject to assess the feasibility of Glx MRS and BOLD fMRI to measure ketamine induced changes in glutamatergic indices. The investigators will randomize 18 subjects at each site. Subjects will be randomized to ketamine or placebo in a 2:1 ratio and receive two drug challenges separated by at least two weeks. Ketamine challenge is used to induce a "glutamate surge" within prefrontal brain regions that can be detected using neurochemical and functional imaging techniques. Each subject will receive MRS and BOLD fMRI during each challenge day. The goal of the pilot study is to assess the feasibility of both the proposed ketamine challenge paradigm and of the proposed imaging-based biomarkers. Specific indices to be used in assessing feasibility will include effect size, cross-site and cross-subject reliability, safety, and subject tolerability as similar studies will be performed independently at Yale and UC Davis. Second this information will be used to select and refine final study parameters for a subsequent full proof-of-clinical mechanism (POCM) study investigating the effect of Pomaglumetad on ketamine-induced MRS and fMRI effects.

    Participant Groups

    • IV infusion of ketamine 0.23mg/kg bolus over 1 minutes followed by 0.58 mg/kg/hr over 30 minutes then 0.29mg/kg/hr over 64 minutes

    • Placebo group will receive normal saline

    Eligibility Criteria

    Sex: All
    Minimum Age: 18
    Maximum Age: 55
    Age Groups: Adult
    Healthy Volunteers: Yes

    Inclusion Criteria:

    * Age 18-55
    * Negative Urine Toxicology
    * No present or past psychiatric conditions (including substance abuse or dependence, with the exception of nicotine dependence)
    * No family history of schizophrenia in a first-degree relative

    Exclusion Criteria:

    * Any current DSM IV Axis I disorder and/or past substance abuse of dependence (nicotine dependence is allowed)
    * Any current use of amphetamines, opiates, cocaine, sedative-hypnotics, or cannabis
    * Current (i.e., within the last 3 months) treatment with any psychotropic medications
    * Pregnancy, lactation, or lack of use of effective birth control
    * Presence of positive history of significant medical or neurological illness (including any history of seizure), including high blood pressure (SBP \>140, DBP \>90), low blood pressure (SBP \<100, DBP \<60), orthostatic BP change\>20% (1/3 SBP + 2/3 DBP) or cardiac illness or resting heart rate \>100 or \<50
    * History of significant violent behavior
    * History of recreational ketamine use, recreational PCP use, or an adverse reaction to ketamine. Subjects who have participated prior research ketamine studies will be eligible providing they have participated in no more than 5 previous research ketamine infusions. Subjects can have infusions not more frequently than biweekly and not more than 1/month on average, therefore subjects entering the study will need to wait 1 month if they had a single infusion and 6 weeks if they have had two closely spaced infusions.
    * Contraindication to MRI scanning, including metal implants or claustrophobia. Metal implants, pacemaker, other metal (e.g. shrapnel or surgical prostheses) or paramagnetic objects contained within the body which may present a risk to the subject or interfere with the MR scan, as determined in consultation with a neuroradiologist and according to the guidelines set forth in the following reference book commonly used by neuroradiologists: "Guide to MR procedures and metallic objects", F.G. Shellock, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins NY 2001
    * Color Blindness

    Primary Outcomes
    • Compare changes in Glx response to infusion of ketamine vs placebo, as measured by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H MRS). Calculated by post-pre changes in the Glx over creatinine ratios, with higher values indicating higher Glx/creatinine ratios.

    Other Outcomes
    • Compare changes inpharmacoBOLD in response to infusion of ketamine vs. placebo, as measured by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Calculated by post-pre changes, with higher values indicating higher response

    More Details

    NCT Number: NCT02134951
    Other IDs: 6925
    Study URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02134951
    Last updated: Sep 29, 2023