Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Neuronal Nicotinic Receptor Modulation in the Treatment of Autism: A Pilot Trial of Mecamylamine
Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to examine the safety and efficacy of mecamylamine for the core symptoms of autism.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Autistic Disorder or Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified
* Age 4-12
* General good health
* IQ of \>=36 or mental age of \>=18 months
* Parent/caregiver willingness to accompany child to clinic and monitor for side effects

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unstable Seizure Disorder
* Psychoactive medication in the process of adjustment
* Antipsychotic medication in previous 3 months before baseline
* Systemic corticoids (inhalers allowed)
* Planned beginning of major behavioral intervention in 3 months of study or the 2 months prior to the study.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Fluent in English
* Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria for ASD or International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD10) criteria for Autism diagnosis confirmed by Autism Diagnostic Observational Schedule (ADOS-2) criteria
* Social Responsiveness Scale, second edition (SRS-2) (T-score) \>= 66
* Clinical Global Impressions of Severity (CGI-S) \>= 4 (moderately ill) at screening
* IQ \>= 70 as assessed by Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence Scale: Second Edition (WASI-II) or Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence: Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) intelligence test
* Language, hearing, and vision compatible with the study measurements as judged by the investigator

Inclusion Criteria for the OLE:

* Have completed the blinded treatment phase of the study OR were required to stop dosing at or before Week 8
* Have no adverse events that would prohibit starting the OLE

Exclusion Criteria:

* Initiation of a major change in psychosocial intervention (including investigational) within 4 weeks prior to screening
* Unstable or uncontrolled clinically significant psychiatric and/or neurological disorder that may interfere with the safety or efficacy endpoints
* Known personal or family history of cerebral aneurysm
* Risk of suicidal behavior
* Seizure within the past 6 months
* Medical history of alcohol or substance abuse/dependence
* Concurrent cardio-vascular disease not considered well controlled by the Investigator
* Clinically significant abnormality on electrocardiogram at screening
* Concomitant disease or condition (pulmonary, gastro-intestinal, hepatic, renal, metabolic, immunological system, or obesity that could interfere with the conduct of the study
* Evidence for current gastro-intestinal bleeding, e.g., active stomach ulcer disease
* History of coagulopathies, bleeding disorders, or blood dyscrasias
* Positive serology for hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1, or HIV 2
* Confirmed clinically significant abnormality in parameters of hematology, clinical chemistry, coagulation, or urinalysis
* Medical history of malignancy if not considered cured
* Participation in an investigational drug study within 90 days or 5 times the half-life of the investigational molecule (whichever is longer) prior to randomization
* Loss of blood over 250 milliliters within three months prior to screening
* Allowed medications have not been stable since 4 weeks before screening, and allowed medications for treatment of epilepsy have not been stable since 3 months before screening
* Use of prohibited medications within 2 weeks prior to screening visit or 5 times the half-life prior to randomization (whichever is longer)
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Written informed consent from parent(s) or legal guardian(s) with sufficient intellectual capacity to understand the study and support subjects' adherence to the study procedures must be obtained for subjects who are not emancipated. In accordance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, the subject will complete an informed assent when developmentally appropriate, to participate in the study before conduct of any study-specific procedures.
* Male or female subjects 6 to 17 years of age, inclusive, at the time of consent.
* A reliable informant (eg, parent, legal guardian, or caregiver) who has past and current direct knowledge of the subject must accompany the subject at each visit and must oversee the administration of the study drug.
* DSM-IV-TR primary diagnosis of autistic disorder confirmation of the diagnosis by a trained clinician (eg, psychiatrist, psychologist, social workers, etc) at the time of screening, by means of the Autism Diagnostic Interview, Revised (ADI-R).
* Screening and Baseline ABC irritability subscale score ≥ 18.
* Screening and Baseline CGI-S ≥ 4.
* Within 5th to 95th percentile for gender specific Growth Charts from Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
* No clinically relevant abnormal laboratory values.
* No clinically relevant abnormal vital sign values/findings

  1. Females who participate in this study:

     * are unable to become pregnant (eg, premenarchal, surgically sterile, etc.) -OR-
     * practices true abstinence (consistent with lifestyle) and must agree to remain abstinent from signing informed consent to at least 7 days after the last dose of study drug has been taken;

-OR-

•are sexually active and willing to use a medically effective method of birth control (eg, male using condom and female using condom, diaphragm, contraceptive sponge, spermicide, contraceptive pill, or intrauterine device) from signing informed consent to at least 7 days after the last dose of study drug has been taken.

* Males must be willing to remain sexually abstinent (consistent with lifestyle) or use an effective method of birth control (eg, male using condom and female using condom, diaphragm, contraceptive sponge, spermicide, contraceptive pill, or intrauterine device) from signing informed consent to at least 7 days after the last dose of study drug has been taken.
* In the judgment of the investigator, the subject is able to swallow the size and number of study drug tablets specified per protocol (See Table 4 for study drug tablet size).
* Able to adhere to protocol-specified meal requirements during dosing.
* Have a stable living arrangement for at least 3 months prior to screening.
* Non-pharmacologic therapy (eg, behavior modification) must be stable for at least 4 weeks before screening and consistent throughout the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects with profound intellectual disability.
* Current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia or major depression, or childhood disintegrative disorder as confirmed by the MINI-Kid (as appropriate) at screening. Confirmed genetic disorders with cognitive and behavioral disturbances are also exclusionary.
* Clinically significant neurological, metabolic (including type 1 and type 2 diabetes), hepatic, renal, hematological, pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, carcinoma, and/or urological disorder that would pose a risk to the subjects if they were to participate in the study or that might confound the results of the study.

Note: Active medical conditions that are minor or well-controlled are not exclusionary if they do not affect risk to the subject or the study results. In cases in which the impact of the condition upon risk to the subject or study results is unclear, the Medical Monitor should be consulted. Any subject with a known cardiovascular disease or condition (even if controlled) must be discussed with the Medical Monitor during screening.

* Evidence of any chronic organic disease of the CNS such as tumors, inflammation, active seizure disorder, vascular disorder, potential CNS related disorders that might occur in childhood- eg, Duchenne Muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, or other neurologic or serious neuromuscular disorders. In addition, subjects must not have a history of persistent neurological symptoms attributable to serious head injury. Past history of febrile seizure, drug-induced seizure, or alcohol withdrawal seizure is not exclusionary.
* If the subject has a history of seizures, the subjects must not currently be taking any antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and be seizure-free for at least 6 months.
* Clinically significant finding(s) on physical examination determined by the investigator to pose a health concern to the subject while on study.
* A history or presence of abnormal ECG, which in the investigator's opinion is clinically significant. Screening ECGs will be centrally over-read, and eligibility will be determined based on the over-read.
* Known history or presence of clinically significant intolerance to any antipsychotic medications including but not limited to angioedema, serotonin or neuroleptic malignant syndromes, severe dystonia, or moderate to severe tardive dyskinesia.
* Clinically significant alcohol abuse/dependence or drug abuse/dependence based on Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for children and adolescents (MINI-Kid) criteria within the last 6 months prior to screening.
* Clinically significant orthostatic hypotension (ie, a drop in systolic blood pressure of 20 mmHg or more and/or drop in diastolic blood pressure of 10 mmHg or more within 4 minutes of standing up).
* Presence or history (within the last year) of a medical or surgical condition (eg, gastrointestinal disease) that might interfere with the absorption, metabolism, or excretion of orally administered lurasidone.
* Positive test results at screening for:

  1. Urine drugs of abuse (amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine, cannabinoids, methamphetamine, and methadone). However, a positive test for amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates, benzodiazepines or methadone may not result in exclusion of subjects if the investigator determines that the positive test is as a result of prescription medicine(s).
  2. Pregnancy test (only in female subjects ≥ 11 years old).
* Lifetime history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or history of Hepatitis B or C.
* Participated in another interventional clinical trial or receiving an investigational product within 30 days prior to study drug administration.
* Use of concomitant medications that consistently prolong the QT/QTc interval within 28 days prior to randomization.
* Received depot neuroleptics unless the last injection was at least 1 month or 1 treatment cycle prior to screening, whichever is longer.
* Subject has received treatment with antidepressants within 3 days, fluoxetine hydrochloride at any time within 21 days, an MAO inhibitor within 21 days of randomization or clozapine within 120 days of randomization. Depot neuroleptics must be discontinued at least one treatment cycle prior to randomization.
* Use of any antipsychotic medication (other than study drug), carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine or fluvoxamine, within 3 days prior to randomization.
* Females who are pregnant, lactating, or likely to become pregnant during the study.
* Donation of whole blood within 60 days prior to randomization.
* Has a prolactin concentration greater than or equal to 100 ng/mL at screening.
* Subject is considered by the investigator to be at imminent risk of suicide during the study. Subject has a history of one or more serious suicide attempts (based on the investigator's judgment) in the 12 months prior to screening. Subjects determined to be at risk of suicide or injury, as assessed by the investigator at screening, will be referred for further psychiatric evaluation.
* Clinically relevant history of drug hypersensitivity to lurasidone or any components in the formulation.
* Subject requires use of concomitant medications that are potent inducers or inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 enzyme system (Appendix C) from signing informed consent until follow-up.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-40
* Able to attend in person therapy sessions in Boston
* Male
* English-speaking
* Normal or corrected vision
* No history of known genetic disorder, significant motor developmental difficulties, prematurity or brain injury
* IQ \> 90, as determined by the WASI
* Score above the cutoff on the Reciprocal Social Interactions and the Restricted, Repetitive, and Stereotyped Behaviors Domains on the ADI-R, meet criteria for PDD or autism on the ADOS, and/or meet DSM-IV criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder according to clinician interview.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current use of certain endocrinologically relevant medications
* Current dependence on substances other than tobacco or caffeine
* History of serious medical illness, including neurological, endocrine, cardiac, respiratory, and metabolic diseases that are counter-indications to oxytocin
* Severe, current psychiatric disorder (ie, current mania, severe depression, psychosis, suicidality, severe aggression)
* Long QT, as determined by baseline EKG
* Current participation in other psychotherapy

Additional exclusion criteria for MRI scan only:

Participants who are MRI-ineligible will be enrolled in the clinical trial portion of the study, but will not undergo the MRI scan at MIT. Exclusion criteria for MRI are:

* Presence of metal implants or other metal in the body
* History of claustrophobia or inability to tolerate MRI

Answer: A