Clinical trial NCT02621606: [11C]MK-6884 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Tracer Validation Trial (MK-6884-001)
Official title: A Three-Part Trial to Qualify [11C]MK-6884 Positron Emission Tomography for Use as a Biomarker for Regional M4 PAM Receptor Density Quantification in the Human Brain
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE1
Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease
Lead sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Sponsor class: INDUSTRY
First posted: 2015-12-03
Enrollment: 20
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 85
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: The purpose of this open-label, 3-part study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of \[11C\]MK-6884 as a positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agent for quantifying muscarinic 4 (M4) positive allosteric modulator (PAM) receptor density in brain regions of interest. The study will enroll healthy participants (Parts 1 and 2) and participants with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) (Part 3). The primary efficacy hypothesis is that the average intra-subject test-retest (T-RT) variability of tracer uptake in brain regions of interest is ≤20%.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

Part 1, 2 and 3:

* Male, or non-pregnant and non-breast feeding female of 18 to 55 years of age (Part 1) or 55 to 85 years of age (Parts 2 and 3); in addition:

  * Male participant who is sexually active with females of childbearing potential must be willing to use a condom from the first dose of study drug until 3 months post the last dose of study drug
  * Female participant with reproductive potential must have serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) test result consistent with non-pregnant state at screening and agree to use two acceptable methods of birth control beginning at screening visit, during study and until 2 weeks after the last dose of study drug
  * Female participant of non-childbearing potential must be post-menopausal female (participant has been without menses for at least 1 year and has a follicle stimulating hormone \[FSH\] level in the postmenopausal range at screening), or surgically sterile female (status post hysterectomy, oophorectomy, or tubal ligation)
* Body Mass Index (BMI) ≤35 kg/m\^2, with height ≤195 cm and weight ≤136 kg
* In good health (Part 1) or generally healthy (Parts 2 and 3) based on medical history, physical examination, vital sign measurements and electrocardiogram (ECG)
* Nonsmoker and/or has not used nicotine or nicotine-containing products for at least approximately 3 months

Part 2 Only:

* Willing to allow placement of an arterial catheter in the radial artery
* Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score ≥27
* No history of subjective memory or other cognitive complaints
* No objective evidence of memory or cognitive impairment

Part 3 Only:

* Moderate to severe AD as defined by:

  * MMSE score ≤20
  * Meets National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Diseases and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria for probable AD
  * Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-V) criteria for AD
  * Rosen-Modified Hachinski score ≤4
  * Screening magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan consistent with a diagnosis of AD
* Clear history of cognitive and functional decline over ≥1 year
* On a stable dose of one of protocol-defined acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) (i.e., donepezil and rivastigmine) for symptomatic treatment of AD. Dose must be stable for at least the last 4 weeks before screening
* Has a reliable trial partner/caregiver who is able to accompany the participant to all clinic visits, if needed, and able to provide information to study investigator/staff via telephone contact

Exclusion Criteria:

Part 1, 2, and 3:

* Mentally or legally incapacitated, has significant emotional problems at the time of screening visit or expected during the conduct of the trial or has a history of clinically significant psychiatric disorder of the last 5 years, except (for Part 3 only) for psychiatric disorders associated with AD
* History of clinically significant endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematological, hepatic, immunological, renal, respiratory, genitourinary or major neurological abnormalities or diseases, unless (for Part 2 and 3 only) adequately controlled through a stable medication regimen
* History of cancer
* History of significant multiple and/or severe allergies or has had an anaphylactic reaction or significant intolerability to prescription or non-prescription drugs or food. For Part 2, this includes any known allergy to lidocaine which may be used as an anesthetic for the placement of the arterial catheter
* Has positive test result for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibodies or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
* Has had major surgery or donated or lost 1 unit of blood (approximately 500 mL) within 4 weeks prior to screening
* Has participated in another investigational trial within 4 weeks of screening
* Corrected QT (QTc) interval ≥470 msec (for males) or ≥480 msec (for females)
* Is unable to refrain from or anticipates the use of any medication, including prescription and non-prescription drugs or herbal remedies, beginning approximately 2 weeks prior to administration of the initial dose of study drug and throughout the study.
* Consumes \>3 servings of alcohol a day
* Consumes \>6 caffeine servings a day
* Is currently a regular or recreational user of cannabis, any illicit drugs or has a history of drug (including alcohol) abuse within approximately 3 months
* Has participated in a PET research study or other study involving administration of a radioactive substance or ionizing radiation within 12 months prior to screening or has undergone an extensive radiological examination within this period
* Suffers from claustrophobia or an inability to tolerate confinement in small places and would be unable to undergo MRI or PET scanning

Part 2 Only:

- Has been administered an AChEI within the prior 3 months or will require administration of an AChEI during study

Part 3 Only:

* Has been administered galantamine within the prior 7 days or will require administration of galantamine during study
* History within 2 years prior to screening, or current evidence of any neurological or neurodegenerative disorder other than AD that is associated with transient or sustained alterations in cognition
* History within 2 years prior to screening, or current evidence of a psychotic disorder or a major depressive disorder

Part 2 and 3 Only:

- Has or is suspected to have implanted or embedded metal objects, or fragments in the head or body that would present a risk during the MRI scanning procedure

Primary outcomes:
measure: Number of Participants Experiencing an Adverse Event (AE)
timeFrame: Up to 15 days
measure: Number of Participants Discontinuing the Study Due to an Adverse Event (AE)
timeFrame: Up to 15 days
measure: [Part 1] Mean Effective Dose of [11C]MK-6884
timeFrame: Up to 2 hours post-dose
measure: [Part 1] Mean Organ Effective Dose of [11C]MK-6884
timeFrame: Up to 2 hours post dose
measure: [Part 2] Mean Non-displaceable Binding Potential (BPND) of [11C]MK-6884 in Brain Regions of Interest (ROI)
timeFrame: Up to 90 minutes post dose
measure: [Part 2] Intra-subject Test-Retest (T-RT) Variability of Non-displaceable Binding Potential (BPND) of [11C]MK-6884 in Brain Regions of Interest (ROI)
timeFrame: Up to 24 hours post dose
measure: [Part 3] Mean Regional Non-displaceable Binding Potential (BPND) of [11C]MK-6884 in Brain Regions of Interest
timeFrame: Up to 90 minutes post dose
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
name: Medical Director
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References:
citation: Li W, Wang Y, Lohith TG, Zeng Z, Tong L, Mazzola R, Riffel K, Miller P, Purcell M, Holahan M, Haley H, Gantert L, Hesk D, Ren S, Morrow J, Uslaner J, Struyk A, Wai JM, Rudd MT, Tellers DM, McAvoy T, Bormans G, Koole M, Van Laere K, Serdons K, de Hoon J, Declercq R, De Lepeleire I, Pascual MB, Zanotti-Fregonara P, Yu M, Arbones V, Masdeu JC, Cheng A, Hussain A, Bueters T, Anderson MS, Hostetler ED, Basile AS. The PET tracer [11C]MK-6884 quantifies M4 muscarinic receptor in rhesus monkeys and patients with Alzheimer's disease. Sci Transl Med. 2022 Jan 12;14(627):eabg3684. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abg3684. Epub 2022 Jan 12.