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Clayton AH, Lasser R, Parikh SV, Iosifescu DV, Jung J, Kotecha M, Forrestal F, Jonas J, Kanes SJ, Doherty J. Zuranolone for the Treatment of Adults With Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial. Am J Psychiatry 2023; 180:676-684. [PMID: 37132201 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20220459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study assessed the efficacy and safety of a 14-day treatment course of once-daily zuranolone 50 mg, an investigational oral positive allosteric modulator of the γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor, for the treatment of major depressive disorder. METHODS Patients 18-64 years of age with severe major depressive disorder were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients self-administered zuranolone 50 mg or placebo once daily for 14 days. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in total score on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) at day 15. Safety and tolerability were assessed by incidence of adverse events. RESULTS Of 543 randomized patients, 534 (266 in the zuranolone group, 268 in the placebo group) constituted the full analysis set. Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the zuranolone group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms at day 15 (least squares mean change from baseline HAM-D score, -14.1 vs. -12.3). Numerically greater improvements in depressive symptoms for zuranolone versus placebo were observed by day 3 (least squares mean change from baseline HAM-D score, -9.8 vs. -6.8), which were sustained at all visits throughout the treatment and follow-up periods of the study (through day 42, with the difference remaining nominally significant through day 12). Two patients in each group experienced a serious adverse event; nine patients in the zuranolone group and four in the placebo group discontinued treatment due to adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Zuranolone at 50 mg/day elicited a significantly greater improvement in depressive symptoms at day 15, with a rapid time to effect (day 3). Zuranolone was generally well tolerated, with no new safety findings compared with previously studied lower dosages. These findings support the potential of zuranolone in treating adults with major depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita H Clayton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
| | - Robert Lasser
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
| | - Sagar V Parikh
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
| | - Dan V Iosifescu
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
| | - JungAh Jung
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
| | - Mona Kotecha
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
| | - Fiona Forrestal
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
| | - Jeffrey Jonas
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
| | - Stephen J Kanes
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
| | - James Doherty
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville (Clayton); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Jung, Jonas, Kanes, Doherty); Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Parikh); Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research and Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York (Iosifescu); Biogen, Cambridge, Mass. (Kotecha, Forrestal)
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Clayton AH, Lasser R, Nandy I, Sankoh AJ, Jonas J, Kanes SJ. Zuranolone in Major Depressive Disorder: Results From MOUNTAIN-A Phase 3, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. J Clin Psychiatry 2023; 84. [PMID: 36811520 DOI: 10.4088/jcp.22m14445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of zuranolone, an investigational neuroactive steroid and GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator, in major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: The phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled MOUNTAIN study enrolled adult outpatients with DSM-5-diagnosed MDD, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale total score (HDRS-17) ≥ 22, and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total score ≥ 32. Patients were randomized to treatment with zuranolone 20 mg, zuranolone 30 mg, or placebo for 14 days, followed by an observation period (days 15-42) and an extended follow-up (days 43-182). The primary endpoint was change from baseline (CFB) in HDRS-17 at day 15. Results: 581 patients were randomized to receive zuranolone (20 mg, n = 194; 30 mg, n = 194) or placebo (n = 193). Day 15 HDRS-17 least-squares mean (LSM) CFB was -12.5 (zuranolone 30 mg) vs -11.1 (placebo; P = .116). Improvement vs placebo was significant at days 3, 8, and 12 (all P < .05). LSM CFB (zuranolone 20 mg vs placebo) was not significant at any measured time point. Post hoc analyses of zuranolone 30 mg in patients with measurable plasma zuranolone concentration and/or severe disease (baseline HDRS-17 ≥ 24) showed significant improvement vs placebo at days 3, 8, 12, and 15 (all P < .05). Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar between zuranolone and placebo groups; the most common (≥ 5%) were fatigue, somnolence, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, sedation, and nausea. Conclusions: MOUNTAIN did not meet its primary endpoint. Significant rapid improvements in depressive symptoms were observed with zuranolone 30 mg at days 3, 8, and 12. Zuranolone was generally well tolerated in patients with MDD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03672175.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita H Clayton
- University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia.,Corresponding author: Anita H. Clayton, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, PO Box 800623, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0623
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Deligiannidis KM, Citrome L, Huang MY, Acaster S, Fridman M, Bonthapally V, Lasser R, Kanes SJ. Effect of Zuranolone on Concurrent Anxiety and Insomnia Symptoms in Women With Postpartum Depression. J Clin Psychiatry 2023; 84. [PMID: 36724109 DOI: 10.4088/jcp.22m14475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Concurrent anxiety and/or insomnia symptoms in women with postpartum depression (PPD) are common and associated with more severe PPD. The effects of zuranolone on concurrent anxiety and/or insomnia symptoms and on patient-perceived functional health in women with PPD in the ROBIN study are reported. Methods: The phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial (conducted January 2017-December 2018) included women aged 18-45 years, ≤ 6 months postpartum, with PPD (onset of DSM-5-defined major depressive episode in the third trimester or ≤ 4 weeks postpartum) and baseline 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) total score ≥ 26. Women were randomized 1:1 to once-daily oral zuranolone 30 mg (n = 77) or placebo (n = 76) for 14 days with follow-up through day 45. Concurrent remission of depressive and anxiety symptoms (Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale total score ≤ 7 plus HDRS-17 total score ≤ 7 or Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total score ≤ 10), improvement in insomnia symptoms, patient-perceived functional health, and treatment effect sizes described by number needed to treat (NNT) were assessed. Analyses were exploratory; P values are nominal. Results: Rates of concurrent remission of depressive and anxiety symptoms were higher with zuranolone versus placebo (P < .05) at days 3, 15, and 45; the rate of sustained concurrent remission (ie, at both days 15 and 45) was also higher with zuranolone (P < .05). Anxiety symptoms (assessed by HDRS-17 anxiety/somatization subscale and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale anxiety subscale) improved with zuranolone versus placebo (P < .05) at days 3 through 45. Potential benefits on insomnia symptoms and patient-perceived functional health were observed. Day 15 NNTs were 5 for both HDRS-17 response and remission. Conclusions: Zuranolone was associated with concurrent improvements in depressive and anxiety symptoms, with beneficial effects on insomnia symptoms and patient-perceived functional health in adults with PPD. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02978326.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M Deligiannidis
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, New York.,Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York.,Corresponding author: Kristina M. Deligiannidis, MD, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Division of Psychiatry Research, Women's Behavioral Health, 75-59 263rd St, Glen Oaks, NY 11004
| | | | | | - Sarah Acaster
- Acaster Lloyd Consulting Ltd., London, United Kingdom
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Epperson CN, Rubinow DR, Meltzer-Brody S, Deligiannidis KM, Riesenberg R, Krystal AD, Bankole K, Huang MY, Li H, Brown C, Kanes SJ, Lasser R. Effect of brexanolone on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and insomnia in women with postpartum depression: Pooled analyses from 3 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials in the HUMMINGBIRD clinical program. J Affect Disord 2023; 320:353-359. [PMID: 36191643 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.09.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brexanolone is currently the only treatment specifically approved for postpartum depression (PPD) in the United States, based on the results from one Phase 2 and two Phase 3 double-blind, randomized, controlled trials in the HUMMINGBIRD program. METHODS Adults with PPD randomized to a 60-h infusion of brexanolone 90 μg/kg/h (BRX90) or placebo from the 3 trials were included in these post hoc analyses. Data on change from baseline (CFB) in the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) total score, HAMD-17 Anxiety/Somatization and Insomnia subscales, and Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) scale were pooled. Response rates for HAMD-17 (≥50 % reduction from baseline) and CGI-I (score of 1 or 2) scales and time to response were analyzed. RESULTS Patients receiving BRX90 (n = 102) versus placebo (n = 107) achieved a more rapid HAMD-17 response (median, 24 vs 36 h; p = 0.0265), with an Hour-60 cumulative response rate of 81.4 % versus 67.3 %; results were similar for time to CGI-I response (median, 24 vs 36 h; p = 0.0058), with an Hour-60 cumulative response rate of 81.4 % versus 61.7 %. CFB in HAMD-17 Anxiety/Somatization and Insomnia subscales also favored BRX90 versus placebo, starting at Hour 24 through Day 30 (all p < 0.05), and response rates for both subscales were higher with BRX90. LIMITATIONS The study was not powered to assess exploratory outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Brexanolone was associated with rapid improvement in depressive symptoms and symptoms of anxiety and insomnia compared with placebo in women with PPD. These data continue to support the use of brexanolone to treat adults with PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Neill Epperson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States of America.
| | - David R Rubinow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Samantha Meltzer-Brody
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Kristina M Deligiannidis
- Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health, Glen Oaks, NY, United States of America; Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States of America
| | - Robert Riesenberg
- Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Andrew D Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Kemi Bankole
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Ming-Yi Huang
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Haihong Li
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Colville Brown
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Stephen J Kanes
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Robert Lasser
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
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Kanes SJ, Dennie L, Perera P. Targeting the Arginine Vasopressin V 1b Receptor System and Stress Response in Depression and Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:811-828. [PMID: 37077711 PMCID: PMC10106826 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s402831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A healthy stress response is critical for good mental and overall health and promotes neuronal growth and adaptation, but the intricately balanced biological mechanisms that facilitate a stress response can also result in predisposition to disease when that equilibrium is disrupted. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis neuroendocrine system plays a critical role in the body's response and adaptation to stress, and vasopressinergic regulation of the HPA axis is critical to maintaining system responsiveness during chronic stress. However, exposure to repeated or excessive physical or emotional stress or trauma can shift the body's stress response equilibrium to a "new normal" underpinned by enduring changes in HPA axis function. Exposure to early life stress due to adverse childhood experiences can also lead to lasting neurobiological changes, including in HPA axis function. HPA axis impairment in patients with depression is considered among the most reliable findings in biological psychiatry, and chronic stress has been shown to play a major role in the pathogenesis and onset of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Modulating HPA axis activity, for example via targeted antagonism of the vasopressin V1b receptor, is a promising approach for patients with depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders associated with HPA axis impairment. Despite favorable preclinical indications in animal models, demonstration of clinical efficacy for the treatment of depressive disorders by targeting HPA axis dysfunction has been challenging, possibly due to the heterogeneity and syndromal nature of depressive disorders. Measures of HPA axis function, such as elevated cortisol levels, may be useful biomarkers for identifying patients who may benefit from treatments that modulate HPA axis activity. Utilizing clinical biomarkers to identify subsets of patients with impaired HPA axis function who may benefit is a promising next step in fine-tuning HPA axis activity via targeted antagonism of the V1b receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Kanes
- EmbarkNeuro, Oakland, CA, USA
- Correspondence: Stephen J Kanes, EmbarkNeuro, Inc, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1300, Oakland, CA, 94607, USA, Tel +1 610 757 7821, Email
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Suthoff E, Kosinski M, Arnaud A, Hodgkins P, Gunduz-Bruce H, Lasser R, Silber C, Sankoh AJ, Li H, Werneburg B, Jonas J, Doherty J, Kanes SJ, Bonthapally V. Patient-reported health-related quality of life from a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial of zuranolone in adults with major depressive disorder. J Affect Disord 2022; 308:19-26. [PMID: 35378149 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD), a disabling, potentially life-threatening condition, negatively affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This secondary analysis aimed to understand the impact of the neuroactive steroid zuranolone on HRQoL using the Short Form-36v2 Health Survey (SF-36v2). METHODS Adult patients with MDD and 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression total score ≥22 were randomized 1:1 to receive zuranolone 30 mg or placebo for 2 weeks, with 4 weeks follow-up. SF-36v2 scores were assessed at Day 15 across 8 domains (Physical Functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role Emotional, and Mental Health) and 2 summary scores (Physical and Mental Component), using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures. Correlations between SF-36v2 scores and clinician-reported efficacy endpoints were assessed using Pearson's correlation. RESULTS Eighty-nine patients were treated with zuranolone 30 mg (n = 45) or placebo (n = 44). In zuranolone-treated patients, HRQoL improved across all SF-36v2 domains and summary scores at Day 15. Improvements exceeding established minimally important difference thresholds were observed in Bodily Pain, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role Emotional, and Mental Health scores. Improvements in General Health, Vitality, Mental Health, and Mental Component Summary were statistically significant versus placebo (p ≤ 0.025). Clinician-rated endpoints negatively correlated with SF-36v2 scores. LIMITATIONS The small unipolar depression sample may not be representative of all US MDD patients. HRQoL measures could be impacted by factors unrelated to depression. CONCLUSIONS Zuranolone-treated patients reported rapid and significant improvements in HRQoL versus placebo at Day 15. HRQoL improvements correlated with improvements in clinician-rated assessments. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov:NCT03000530; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03000530.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellison Suthoff
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America.
| | | | - Alix Arnaud
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Paul Hodgkins
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | | | - Robert Lasser
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | | | - Abdul J Sankoh
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Haihong Li
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Brian Werneburg
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Jonas
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - James Doherty
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Stephen J Kanes
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
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Bullock A, Gunduz‐Bruce H, Zammit GK, Qin M, Li H, Sankoh AJ, Silber C, Kanes SJ, Jonas J, Doherty J. A phase 1 double-blind, placebo-controlled study of zuranolone (SAGE-217) in a phase advance model of insomnia in healthy adults. Hum Psychopharmacol 2022; 37:e2806. [PMID: 34352138 PMCID: PMC9286466 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate single zuranolone (SAGE-217) 30 or 45 mg doses in a 5-h phase advance insomnia model. METHODS In this double-blind, three-way crossover study, healthy adults received placebo (n = 41), zuranolone 30 mg (n = 44), and zuranolone 45 mg (n = 42) across three treatment periods. Sleep was assessed by polysomnography and a postsleep questionnaire. Next-day residual effects and safety/tolerability were evaluated. RESULTS Compared with placebo, zuranolone resulted in significant improvements in median sleep efficiency (30 mg, 84.6%; 45 mg, 87.6%; placebo, 72.9%; p < 0.001 for both doses), wake after sleep onset (WASO; 30 mg, 55.0 min; 45 mg, 42.5 min; placebo, 113.0 min; p < 0.001 for both doses), duration of awakenings (30 mg, 4.2 min, p < 0.001; 45 mg, 3.7 min, p = 0.001; placebo, 7.4 min), and total sleep time (TST; 30 mg, 406.3 min; 45 mg, 420.3 min; placebo, 350.0 min; p < 0.001 for both doses). Subjective endpoints (WASO, TST, sleep latency, sleep quality) also improved relative to placebo. Zuranolone was generally well tolerated, and the most common adverse events (≥2 participants, any period) were headache and fatigue. CONCLUSION Zuranolone improved sleep measures versus placebo in a phase advance model of insomnia in healthy adults, supporting future studies in patients with insomnia disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Bullock
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc.CambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Gary K. Zammit
- Clinilabs Drug Development CorporationNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Min Qin
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc.CambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Haihong Li
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc.CambridgeMassachusettsUSA
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Deligiannidis KM, Meltzer-Brody S, Gunduz-Bruce H, Doherty J, Jonas J, Li S, Sankoh AJ, Silber C, Campbell AD, Werneburg B, Kanes SJ, Lasser R. Effect of Zuranolone vs Placebo in Postpartum Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry 2021; 78:951-959. [PMID: 34190962 PMCID: PMC8246337 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Importance Postpartum depression (PPD) is one of the most common medical complications during and after pregnancy, negatively affecting both mother and child. Objective To demonstrate the efficacy and safety of zuranolone, a neuroactive steroid γ-aminobutyric acid receptor-positive allosteric modulator, in PPD. Design, Setting, and Participants This phase 3, double-blind, randomized, outpatient, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted between January 2017 and December 2018 in 27 enrolling US sites. Participant were women aged 18 to 45 years, 6 months or fewer post partum, with PPD (major depressive episode beginning third trimester or ≤4 weeks postdelivery), and baseline 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) score of 26 or higher. Analysis was intention to treat and began December 2018 and ended March 2019. Interventions Randomization 1:1 to placebo:zuranolone, 30 mg, administered orally each evening for 2 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary end point was change from baseline in HAMD-17 score for zuranolone vs placebo at day 15. Secondary end points included changes from baseline in HAMD-17 total score at other time points, HAMD-17 response (≥50% score reduction) and remission (score ≤7) rates, Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety score. Safety was assessed by adverse events and clinical assessments. Results Of 153 randomized patients, the efficacy set comprised 150 patients (mean [SD] age, 28.3 [5.4] years), and 148 (98.7%) completed treatment. A total of 76 patients were randomized to placebo, and 77 were randomized to zuranolone, 30 mg. Zuranolone demonstrated significant day 15 HAMD-17 score improvements from baseline vs placebo (-17.8 vs -13.6; difference, -4.2; 95% CI, -6.9 to -1.5; P = .003). Sustained differences in HAMD-17 scores favoring zuranolone were observed from day 3 (difference, -2.7; 95% CI, -5.1 to -0.3; P = .03) through day 45 (difference, -4.1; 95% CI, -6.7 to -1.4; P = .003). Sustained differences at day 15 favoring zuranolone were observed in HAMD-17 response (odds ratio, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.34-5.16; P = .005), HAMD-17 score remission (odds ratio, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.24-5.17; P = .01), change from baseline for Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale score (difference, -4.6; 95% CI, -8.3 to -0.8; P = .02), and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety score (difference, -3.9; 95% CI, -6.7 to -1.1; P = .006). One patient per group experienced a serious adverse event (confusional state in the zuranolone group and pancreatitis in the placebo group). One patient in the zuranolone group discontinued because of an adverse event vs none for placebo. Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial, zuranolone improved the core symptoms of depression as measured by HAMD-17 scores in women with PPD and was generally well tolerated, supporting further development of zuranolone in the treatment of PPD. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02978326.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M. Deligiannidis
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, New York
| | | | | | | | | | - Sigui Li
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Gerbasi ME, Kosinski M, Meltzer-Brody S, Acaster S, Fridman M, Huang MY, Bonthapally V, Hodgkins P, Kanes SJ, Eldar-Lissai A. Achieving clinical response in postpartum depression leads to improvement in health-related quality of life. Curr Med Res Opin 2021; 37:1221-1231. [PMID: 33719782 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2021.1902295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) burden associated with postpartum depression (PPD), determine the extent to which clinical response impacts HRQoL, and estimate the impact of PPD and clinical response on healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and productivity. METHODS Patient data (n = 127) from two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of brexanolone injection in adults with PPD were employed for these posthoc analyses. HRQoL and health utility was assessed with the SF-36-v2 Health Survey (SF-36v2) acute version. The 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) total score was used to identify clinical response (≥50% reduction in HAMD-17 total score). Baseline HRQoL burden was assessed by comparison to age- and gender-adjusted population normative data from the 2009 QualityMetric PRO Norming study. The impact of clinical response was evaluated by comparing day 7 and day 30 SF-36v2 scores between clinical responders and non-responders. Interpretations of the meaningfulness of clinical response were indirectly estimated via 2017 National Health and Wellness Survey data linking SF-36v2 mental component summary (MCS) scores to (HRU) and productivity. RESULTS Baseline HRQoL of patients with PPD was significantly below normative values. Day 7 and day 30 clinical response were associated with large and statistically significant improvements in HRQoL, greater likelihood of meeting SF-36v2 responder definitions, and reduced impairment. MCS levels corresponding to those observed in clinical responders were linked to lower HRU and productivity loss relative to non-responders. CONCLUSIONS PPD places a substantial burden on HRQoL. Achievement of rapid clinical response (at day 7) and clinical response sustained several weeks following the end of treatment (day 30) led to significant improvement in HRQoL, suggesting the importance of identifying women with PPD and providing effective treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Samantha Meltzer-Brody
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Rubinow DR, Lasser R, Kanes SJ. Comment on "Understanding the Clinical Effects and Mechanisms of Action of Neurosteroids". Am J Psychiatry 2021; 178:572-573. [PMID: 34154385 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20121681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David R Rubinow
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (Rubinow); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Kanes)
| | - Robert Lasser
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (Rubinow); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Kanes)
| | - Stephen J Kanes
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (Rubinow); Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge, Mass. (Lasser, Kanes)
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11
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Gerbasi ME, Meltzer-Brody S, Acaster S, Fridman M, Bonthapally V, Hodgkins P, Kanes SJ, Eldar-Lissai A. Brexanolone in Postpartum Depression: Post Hoc Analyses to Help Inform Clinical Decision-Making. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2021; 30:385-392. [PMID: 33181049 PMCID: PMC7957380 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Brexanolone (BRX) injection was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2019 for the treatment of adults with postpartum depression (PPD) based on two Phase 3 clinical trials. Materials and Methods: Data from the three trials were combined. PPD-specific 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) group-level minimal important difference (MID) and patient-level meaningful change (meaningful change threshold [MCT]) were estimated and applied to differences in BRX versus placebo (PBO) at hour 60 (primary endpoint) and day 30 (end of trial follow-up). Likelihood of HAMD-17 response and remission and Clinical Global Impression of Improvement (CGI-I) response for BRX versus PBO were assessed at hour 60 and as sustained through day 30 using relative risk. Associated number needed to treat (NNT) and number needed to harm (NNH) values were also estimated. Results: Two-hundred nine patients were included. The average HAMD-17 MID estimate was -2.1; the least-squared mean difference between BRX and PBO exceeded this at hour 60 and day 30. Minimal, moderate, and large MCTs were estimated to be -9, -15, and -20 points, respectively. Significantly more BRX-treated than PBO-treated patients achieved minimal, moderate, and large change (all ps < 0.05) at hour 60 and large meaningful response at day 30 (p < 0.05). BRX-treated patients were more likely to sustain HAMD-17 remission and CGI-I response through day 30 versus PBO. NNTs ranged from 4 to 8, with NNH of 97. Conclusions: BRX provided meaningful changes relative to PBO, rapid (hour 60), and sustained improvements (day 30) in PPD symptoms, low NNT, and large NNH. These results may help inform treatment decision-making. Clinicaltrials.gov registration numbers: NCT02614547, NCT02942004, and NCT02942017.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samantha Meltzer-Brody
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sarah Acaster
- Acaster Lloyd Consulting Ltd., London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Paul Hodgkins
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Bullock A, Kaul I, Li S, Silber C, Doherty J, Kanes SJ. Zuranolone as an oral adjunct to treatment of Parkinsonian tremor: A phase 2, open-label study. J Neurol Sci 2020; 421:117277. [PMID: 33387701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.117277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by both motor and nonmotor deficits. Among cardinal symptoms of this disorder, tremor is the least responsive to dopamine replacement therapy and is often undertreated. Zuranolone (SAGE-217) is an investigational oral neuroactive steroid (NAS) gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor-positive allosteric modulator (PAM) that has been investigated for its safety and efficacy in patients with PD. In the current open-label study, zuranolone capsules (20 to 30 mg) were administered for 7 days in 14 patients (mean age, 65.1 years; mean time since PD diagnosis, 9 years). The primary efficacy endpoint was reduction in tremor symptoms, as assessed by change from baseline in Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) Part II/III Tremor Scores on Day 8. Additional endpoints included improvements in overall motor symptoms, and motor and nonmotor aspects of daily living. Adverse events (AEs) were also monitored. The MDS-UPDRS Part II/III Tremor Score improved by 40% (P < 0.0001) from baseline on Day 8. The motor score, and nonmotor experiences of daily living (nM-EDL), and motor experiences of daily living (m-EDL) scores (MDS-UPDRS Parts I and II, respectively), also improved on Day 8. No serious AEs were reported, and no patients discontinued treatment. The most common AEs were dizziness, sedation, and somnolence. Zuranolone was generally well tolerated and improved tremor symptoms in patients with PD who were on stable doses of concurrent dopaminergic agents. These data support the further investigation of NAS GABAA receptor PAMs as adjunctive treatments for tremor in patients with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Bullock
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America.
| | - Inder Kaul
- Kaul Consulting, LLC, Concord, MA, United States of America
| | - Sigui Li
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | | | - James Doherty
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Stephen J Kanes
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States of America
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Gerbasi ME, Eldar-Lissai A, Acaster S, Fridman M, Bonthapally V, Hodgkins P, Kanes SJ, Meltzer-Brody S. Associations between commonly used patient-reported outcome tools in postpartum depression clinical practice and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Arch Womens Ment Health 2020; 23:727-735. [PMID: 32666402 PMCID: PMC7497318 DOI: 10.1007/s00737-020-01042-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to explore the associations between the patient-reported Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and clinician-reported 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) in order to facilitate clinical decision-making. An integrated efficacy dataset of three randomized placebo-controlled trials (NCT02614547, NCT02942004, and NCT02942017) evaluating brexanolone injection, a neuroactive steroid chemically identical to allopregnanolone, in women with postpartum depression was used for this post hoc analysis. Data were pooled across treatment arms. Associations were assessed at day 30 (end-of-trial follow-up). Pearson correlation assessed the relationship between EPDS and PHQ-9 item and total scores and HAMD-17 total score. Cohen's kappa assessed agreement of EPDS remission (score < 10) and PHQ-9 remission (score < 5) with HAMD-17 remission (score ≤ 7). Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models were used to develop equations estimating HAMD-17 total scores from EPDS and PHQ-9 scores, respectively. The total scores showed large correlations (HAMD-17/EPDS: r = 0.71, p < 0.001; HAMD-17/PHQ-9: r = 0.75, p < 0.001). Individual EPDS and PHQ-9 items significantly correlated (r= 0.35 to 0.67, all p < 0.001) with HAMD-17 total score. EPDS had 79% sensitivity and 67% specificity to detect HAMD-17 remission; corresponding estimates for PHQ-9 were 76% and 78%. OLS models yielded the following equations: HAMD-17 total = 2.66 + (EPDS total × 0.87) and HAMD-17 total = 3.99 + (PHQ-9 total × 0.97). There were large and statistically significant associations between patient-reported outcomes (EPDS, PHQ-9) and clinician-reported outcomes (HAMD-17) as clinical improvements were associated with patient-reported symptom improvement. These results provide tools to help translate clinical trial data to clinical practice, thus aiding shared decision-making for this critical population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Samantha Meltzer-Brody
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 101 Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 USA
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Mittal A, Deligiannidis K, Huang M, Suthoff E, Acaster S, Fridman M, Li S, Gunduz-Bruce H, Lasser R, Campbell AD, Bonthapally V, Hodgkins P, Kanes SJ, Werneburg B. 0535 Evaluation of Insomnia Symptoms in a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial of Sage-217 in Postpartum Depression. Sleep 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a specifier of major depressive disorder (MDD) with peripartum onset. SAGE-217, an investigational, oral neuroactive steroid GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator, demonstrated improvements in depressive and anxiety symptoms versus placebo in a Phase 3 trial in PPD (NCT02978326; ROBIN) and a pivotal trial in MDD (NCT03000530). In PPD and MDD, insomnia symptoms are key diagnostic features, comorbid sleep disorders are frequent, and insomnia is a common residual symptom. Here we conducted post-hoc analyses to assess insomnia symptoms in the ROBIN trial.
Methods
Women (n=151) ages 18-45, ≤6 months postpartum, with PPD (major depressive episode beginning in 3rd trimester or ≤4 weeks postpartum) and a Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) total score ≥26, were randomized 1:1 to receive outpatient SAGE-217 30mg or placebo for two weeks, with 4 weeks follow-up. Change from baseline (CFB) in HAM-D score at Day 15 was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included CFB in HAM-D at other time points and the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Post-hoc analyses assessed HAM-D insomnia subscale (HAM-D-Ins) and MADRS individual insomnia item (MADRS-Ins) scores. HAM-D and MADRS measures were evaluated using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures. Safety and tolerability were assessed by adverse event (AE) reporting.
Results
SAGE-217 demonstrated statistically significant Day 15 CFB versus placebo in HAM-D (primary endpoint: -17.8 vs. -13.6, p=0.0028), MADRS (-22.1 vs. -17.6, p=0.0180), and associated insomnia sub-scales/items (difference SAGE-217 vs. placebo; HAM-D-Ins: -1.003, p=0.0038; MADRS-Ins: -0.773, p=0.0116). Significant CFB in insomnia sub-scales/items favoring SAGE-217 were observed by Day 3 (HAM-D-Ins: -0.841, p=0.0142; MADRS-Ins: -0.710, p=0.017) and at Day 45 (HAM-D-Ins: -0.730, p=0.0207; MADRS-Ins: -0.636, p=0.0221). Most common (≥5%) AEs were somnolence, headache, dizziness, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and sedation.
Conclusion
SAGE-217 demonstrated improvements in depression symptoms, including insomnia symptoms, and was generally well tolerated.
Support
This study was sponsored by Sage Therapeutics, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mittal
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA
| | - K Deligiannidis
- Department of Psychiatry, Zucker Hillside Hospital, Glen Oaks, NY
| | - M Huang
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA
| | - E Suthoff
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA
| | - S Acaster
- Acaster Lloyd Consulting Ltd., London, UNITED KINGDOM
| | | | - S Li
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA
| | | | - R Lasser
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA
| | | | | | | | - S J Kanes
- Sage Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA
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15
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Meltzer-Brody S, Kanes SJ. Allopregnanolone in postpartum depression: Role in pathophysiology and treatment. Neurobiol Stress 2020; 12:100212. [PMID: 32435663 PMCID: PMC7231991 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2020.100212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a unique subtype of major depressive disorder and a substantial contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. In addition to affecting the mother, PPD can have short- and long-term consequences for the infant and partner. The precise etiology of PPD is unknown, but proposed mechanisms include altered regulation of stress response pathways, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and dysfunctional gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling, and functional linkages exist between these pathways. Current PPD pharmacotherapies are not directly related to these proposed pathophysiologies. In this review, we focus on the potential role of GABAergic signaling and the GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator allopregnanolone in PPD. Data implicating GABAergic signaling and allopregnanolone in PPD are discussed in the context of the development of brexanolone injection, an intravenous formulation of allopregnanolone recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult women with PPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Meltzer-Brody
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
- Corresponding author.
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16
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Gunduz-Bruce H, Silber C, Kaul I, Rothschild AJ, Riesenberg R, Sankoh AJ, Li H, Lasser R, Zorumski CF, Rubinow DR, Paul SM, Jonas J, Doherty JJ, Kanes SJ. Trial of SAGE-217 in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder. N Engl J Med 2019; 381:903-911. [PMID: 31483961 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1815981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Altered neurotransmission of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression. Whether SAGE-217, an oral, positive allosteric modulator of GABA type A receptors, is effective and safe for the treatment of major depressive disorder is unknown. METHODS In this double-blind, phase 2 trial, we enrolled patients with major depression and randomly assigned them in a 1:1 ratio to receive 30 mg of SAGE-217 or placebo once daily. The primary end point was the change from baseline to day 15 in the score on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D; scores range from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating more severe depression). Secondary efficacy end points, which were assessed on days 2 through 8 and on days 15, 21, 28, 35, and 42, included changes from baseline in scores on additional depression and anxiety scales, a reduction from baseline of more than 50% in the HAM-D score, a HAM-D score of 7 or lower, and a Clinical Global Impression of Improvement score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved) (on a scale of 1 to 7, with a score of 7 indicating that symptoms are very much worse). RESULTS A total of 89 patients underwent randomization: 45 patients were assigned to the SAGE-217 group, and 44 to the placebo group. The mean baseline HAM-D score was 25.2 in the SAGE-217 group and 25.7 in the placebo group. The least-squares mean (±SE) change in the HAM-D score from baseline to day 15 was -17.4±1.3 points in the SAGE-217 group and -10.3±1.3 points in the placebo group (least-squares mean difference in change, -7.0 points; 95% confidence interval, -10.2 to -3.9; P<0.001). The differences in secondary end points were generally in the same direction as those of the primary end point. There were no serious adverse events. The most common adverse events in the SAGE-217 group were headache, dizziness, nausea, and somnolence. CONCLUSIONS Administration of SAGE-217 daily for 14 days resulted in a reduction in depressive symptoms at day 15. Adverse events were more common in the SAGE-217 group than in the placebo group. Further trials are needed to determine the durability and safety of SAGE-217 in major depressive disorder and to compare SAGE-217 with available treatments. (Funded by Sage Therapeutics; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03000530.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Handan Gunduz-Bruce
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Christopher Silber
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Inder Kaul
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Anthony J Rothschild
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Robert Riesenberg
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Abdul J Sankoh
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Haihong Li
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Robert Lasser
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Charles F Zorumski
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - David R Rubinow
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Steven M Paul
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Jeffrey Jonas
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - James J Doherty
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
| | - Stephen J Kanes
- From Sage Therapeutics, Cambridge (H.G.-B., C.S., A.J.S., H.L., R.L., S.M.P., J.J., J.J.D., S.J.K.), Kaul Consulting, Concord (I.K.), and the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester (A.J.R.) - all in Massachusetts; the Atlanta Center for Medical Research, Atlanta (R.R.); Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis (C.F.Z., S.M.P.); and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.R.R.)
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17
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Rosenthal ES, Claassen J, Wainwright MS, Husain AM, Vaitkevicius H, Raines S, Hoffmann E, Colquhoun H, Doherty JJ, Kanes SJ. Brexanolone as adjunctive therapy in super-refractory status epilepticus. Ann Neurol 2017; 82:342-352. [PMID: 28779545 PMCID: PMC5639357 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective Super‐refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) is a life‐threatening form of status epilepticus that continues or recurs despite 24 hours or more of anesthetic treatment. We conducted a multicenter, phase 1/2 study in SRSE patients to evaluate the safety and tolerability of brexanolone (USAN; formerly SAGE‐547 Injection), a proprietary, aqueous formulation of the neuroactive steroid, allopregnanolone. Secondary objectives included pharmacokinetic assessment and open‐label evaluation of brexanolone response during and after anesthetic third‐line agent (TLA) weaning. Methods Patients receiving TLAs for SRSE control were eligible for open‐label, 1‐hour brexanolone loading infusions, followed by maintenance infusion. After 48 hours of brexanolone infusion, TLAs were weaned during brexanolone maintenance. After 4 days, the brexanolone dose was tapered. Safety and functional status were assessed over 3 weeks of follow‐up. Results Twenty‐five patients received open‐label study drug. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were attributable to study drug, as determined by the Safety Review Committee. Sixteen patients (64%) experienced ≥1 SAE. Six patient deaths occurred, all deemed related to underlying medical conditions. Twenty‐two patients underwent ≥1 TLA wean attempt. Seventeen (77%) met the response endpoint of weaning successfully off TLAs before tapering brexanolone. Sixteen (73%) were successfully weaned off TLAs within 5 days of initiating brexanolone infusion without anesthetic agent reinstatement in the following 24 hours. Interpretation In an open‐label cohort of limited size, brexanolone demonstrated tolerability among SRSE patients of heterogeneous etiologies and was associated with a high rate of successful TLA weaning. The results suggest the possible development of brexanolone as an adjunctive therapy for SRSE requiring pharmacological coma for seizure control. Ann Neurol 2017;82:342–352
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Kanes SJ, Colquhoun H, Doherty J, Raines S, Hoffmann E, Rubinow DR, Meltzer‐Brody S. Open-label, proof-of-concept study of brexanolone in the treatment of severe postpartum depression. Hum Psychopharmacol 2017; 32:e2576. [PMID: 28370307 PMCID: PMC5396368 DOI: 10.1002/hup.2576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Preclinical evidence indicates that rapid changes in levels of allopregnanolone, the predominant metabolite of progesterone, confer dramatic behavioral changes and may trigger postpartum depression (PPD) in some women. Considering the pathophysiology of PPD (i.e., triggered by reproductive steroids), the need for fast-acting, efficacious treatments and the negative consequences of untreated PPD, there is an increasing focus on developing PPD therapies. Brexanolone (USAN; formerly SAGE-547 Injection), a proprietary injectable allopregnanolone formulation, was evaluated as a treatment for severe PPD in a proof-of-concept, open-label study. METHODS Four women with severe PPD, defined as a baseline 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) score of ≥20, received brexanolone, titrated to a dose reflecting third-trimester allopregnanolone levels. After a 36-hour maintenance infusion, tapering occurred over 12 hours. Primary outcomes were measures of safety. Secondary outcomes were assessments of efficacy, including HAMD. RESULTS All enrolled patients completed the study. Fourteen adverse events were reported, of which none was severe. Starting at the first measure after infusion initiation and continuing through Hour 84, mean HAMD total scores were reduced to levels consistent with remission of symptoms. All other efficacy assessments showed similar improvements. CONCLUSIONS Brexanolone was well tolerated and demonstrated activity in severe PPD. Larger, double-blind trials are needed for further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - David R. Rubinow
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillNCUSA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide an estimate of the annual number of super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) cases in the US and to evaluate utilization of hospital resources by these patients. METHODS The Premier Hospital Database was utilized to estimate the number of SRSE cases based on hospital discharges during 2012. Discharges were classified as SRSE cases based on an algorithm using seizure-related International Classification of Diseases-9 (ICD-9) codes, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and treatment protocols (e.g. benzodiazepines, anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), and ventilator use). Secondary analyses were conducted using more restrictive algorithms for SRSE. RESULTS A total of 6,325 hospital discharges were classified as SRSE cases from a total of 5,300,000 hospital discharges. Applying a weighting based on hospital characteristics and 2012 US demographics, this projected to an estimated 41,156 cases of SRSE in the US during 2012, an estimated incidence rate of ∼13/100,000 annually for SRSE in the US. Secondary analyses using stricter SRSE algorithms resulted in estimated incidence rates of ∼11/100,000 and 8/100,000 annually. The mean LOS for SRSE hospitalizations was 16.5 days (median =11; interquartile range [IQR] = 6-20), and the mean ICU LOS was 9.3 days (median =6; IQR =3-12). The mean cost of an SRSE hospitalization was $51,247 (median = $33,294; 95% CI = $49,634-$52,861). LIMITATIONS The analysis uses ICD-9 diagnostic codes and claims information, and there are inherent limitations in any methodology based on treatment protocol, which created challenges in distinguishing with complete accuracy between SRSE, RSE, and SE on the basis of care patterns in the database. CONCLUSION SRSE is associated with high mortality and morbidity, which place a high burden on healthcare resources. Projections based upon the findings of this study suggest an estimated 25,821-41,959 cases of SRSE may occur in the US each year, but more in-depth studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamil M Beg
- a Sage Therapeutics, Inc. , Cambridge , MA , USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lidia M V R Moura
- c Department of Neurology , Massachusetts General Hospital , Boston , MA , USA
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Norberg Å, Koch P, Kanes SJ, Björnsson MA, Barassin S, Ahlén K, Kalman S. A Bolus and Bolus Followed by Infusion Study of AZD3043, an Investigational Intravenous Drug for Sedation and Anesthesia. Anesth Analg 2015; 121:894-903. [DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000000804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Kalman S, Koch P, Ahlén K, Kanes SJ, Barassin S, Björnsson MA, Norberg Å. First Human Study of the Investigational Sedative and Anesthetic Drug AZD3043: A Dose-Escalation Trial to Assess the Safety, Pharmacokinetics, and Efficacy of a 30-Minute Infusion in Healthy Male Volunteers. Anesth Analg 2015; 121:885-893. [PMID: 26111262 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000000831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AZD3043 is a positive allosteric modulator of the γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor that is rapidly metabolized to an inactive metabolite by esterases present in blood and liver. Preclinical results suggest that AZD3043 has the potential as a short-acting IV sedative/anesthetic drug with rapid and predictable recovery characteristics and a favorable safety and tolerability profile. METHODS Our primary objective in this phase 1, single-center, open-label study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of AZD3043 after IV infusion and to estimate the maximal tolerated dose. Secondary objectives included the evaluation of AZD3043 pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy. Sequential ascending-dose cohorts of 5 or 6 healthy male volunteers aged 18 to 45 years received a single 30-minute IV infusion of AZD3043. Assessments included adverse events, vital signs, blood gases, laboratory values, clinical signs of sedation/anesthesia, and bispectral index. RESULTS Fifty-three subjects received AZD3043 in infusion rate cohorts of 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 27, 36, 54, and 81 mg/kg/h. There were no discontinuations, and dose escalation was stopped on reaching the predefined exposure limit. Adverse events occurring in >1 subject were headache (n = 4), erythema (n = 3), chest discomfort (n = 2), nausea (n = 2), and dyspnea (n = 2). The frequency and character of adverse events appeared unrelated to dose. There were no spontaneous reports of pain on injection and no clinically relevant changes in respiratory rate or arterial blood pressure. However, heart rate increased dose-dependently at infusion rates >18 mg/kg/h. Occurrence of sedation/anesthesia corresponded with dose; the lowest applied infusion rate to induce anesthesia according to clinical signs of sedation/anesthesia at predefined time points was 12 mg/kg/h (1 of 6 subjects anesthetized), and all subjects in the 3 highest dose groups were anesthetized. The onset of anesthesia ranged from 4 minutes in the highest infusion rate group to 29 minutes in the 12-mg/kg/h infusion rate group. Return of response to oral command occurred at 3 minutes after the end of infusion in the single subject who was anesthetized in the 12-mg/kg/h group and median 25 minutes in the 81-mg/kg/h group. Involuntary movements ranging from minor twitches to extensive movements were accompanied by increased muscle tone. CONCLUSIONS AZD3043 was well tolerated in this first human study and seems to exhibit rapid onset and recovery, indicating potential use as a short-acting drug for anesthesia and sedation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigridur Kalman
- From the Department of Clinical Science Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm at Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden; AstraZeneca R&D, Södertälje, Sweden; AstraZeneca US, Wilmington, Delaware; and Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, AstraZeneca R&D, Södertälje, Sweden
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Kelly MP, Cheung YF, Favilla C, Siegel SJ, Kanes SJ, Houslay MD, Abel T. Constitutive activation of the G-protein subunit Galphas within forebrain neurons causes PKA-dependent alterations in fear conditioning and cortical Arc mRNA expression. Learn Mem 2008; 15:75-83. [PMID: 18230676 DOI: 10.1101/lm.723708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Memory formation requires cAMP signaling; thus, this cascade has been of great interest in the search for cognitive enhancers. Given that medications are administered long-term, we determined the effects of chronically increasing cAMP synthesis in the brain by expressing a constitutively active isoform of the G-protein subunit Galphas (Galphas*) in postnatal forebrain neurons of mice. Previously, we showed that Galphas* mice exhibit increased adenylyl cyclase activity but decreased cAMP levels in cortex and hippocampus due to a PKA-dependent increase in total cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity. Here, we extend previous findings by determining if Galphas* mice show increased activity of specific PDE families that are regulated by PKA, if Galphas* mice show PKA-dependent deficits in fear memory, and if these memory deficits are associated with PKA-dependent alterations in neuronal activity as mapped by Arc mRNA expression. Consistent with previous findings, we show here that Galphas* mice exhibit a significant compensatory increase in cAMP PDE1 activity and a trend toward increased cAMP PDE4 activity. Further, inhibiting the presumably elevated PKA activity in Galphas* mice fully rescues short- and long-term memory deficits in a fear-conditioning task, while extending the training session from one to four CS-US pairings partially rescues these deficits. Mapping of Arc mRNA levels suggests these PKA-dependent memory deficits may be related to decreased neuronal activity specifically within the cortex. Galphas* mice show decreased Arc mRNA expression in CA1, orbital cortex, and cortical regions surrounding the hippocampus; however, only the deficits in cortical regions surrounding the hippocampus are PKA dependent. Our results imply that chronically stimulating targets upstream of cAMP may detrimentally affect cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele P Kelly
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
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23
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Gur RE, Turetsky BI, Loughead J, Snyder W, Kohler C, Elliott M, Pratiwadi R, Ragland JD, Bilker WB, Siegel SJ, Kanes SJ, Arnold SE, Gur RC. Visual attention circuitry in schizophrenia investigated with oddball event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging. Am J Psychiatry 2007; 164:442-9. [PMID: 17329469 DOI: 10.1176/ajp.2007.164.3.442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Schizophrenia patients have problems directing attention. Sustained attention requires ensuring that brain resources are focused on a selected target (top-down task) while ignoring irrelevant distractors (bottom-up interference). Whether patients have too little ability to focus or too much interference from distraction has not been clarified. The oddball paradigm embeds infrequent targets and distractors into the stimulus train, and schizophrenia deficits have been linked to diminished responses to both. Cerebral activity underlying abnormal attention can be examined with event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging. METHOD A visual oddball task was presented to 22 patients with schizophrenia and 28 comparison subjects. Statistical probability maps reflecting blood-oxygenation-level-dependent changes were generated for infrequent targets and novel distractors relative to frequent standard stimuli. Activation was related to performance and symptoms. RESULTS Activation specific to targets and distractors was associated with faster performance. For targets, patients had diminished activation in superior temporal and frontal gyri, cingulate, thalamus, and basal ganglia. They had increased activation in right insula, mid-frontal gyrus, posterior cingulate, and left inferior parietal lobule. For distractors, patients showed less activation in occipital regions and left inferior parietal lobule but increased activation in parietal-occipital, right mid-frontal, and left inferior frontal gyri. Abnormal activation correlated with positive and negative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Abnormal activation in schizophrenia in response to attentional demands reflects both insufficient recruitment of brain systems required for target detection and overcommitment of resources for processing irrelevant distractors. Schizophrenia patients appear to have an inability both to focus on targets and ignore distraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel E Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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24
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Kelly MP, Isiegas C, Cheung YF, Tokarczyk J, Yang X, Esposito MF, Rapoport DA, Fabian SA, Siegel SJ, Wand G, Houslay MD, Kanes SJ, Abel T. Constitutive activation of Galphas within forebrain neurons causes deficits in sensorimotor gating because of PKA-dependent decreases in cAMP. Neuropsychopharmacology 2007; 32:577-88. [PMID: 16738544 PMCID: PMC3303872 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1301099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Sensorimotor gating, the ability to automatically filter sensory information, is deficient in a number of psychiatric disorders, yet little is known of the biochemical mechanisms underlying this critical neural process. Previously, we reported that mice expressing a constitutively active isoform of the G-protein subunit Galphas (Galphas(*)) within forebrain neurons exhibit decreased gating, as measured by prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle (PPI). Here, to elucidate the biochemistry regulating sensorimotor gating and to identify novel therapeutic targets, we test the hypothesis that Galphas(*) causes PPI deficits via brain region-specific changes in cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling. As predicted from its ability to stimulate adenylyl cyclase, we find here that Galphas(*) increases cAMP levels in the striatum. Suprisingly, however, Galphas(*) mice exhibit reduced cAMP levels in the cortex and hippocampus because of increased cAMP phosphodiesterase (cPDE) activity. It is this decrease in cAMP that appears to mediate the effect of Galphas(*) on PPI because Rp-cAMPS decreases PPI in C57BL/6J mice. Furthermore, the antipsychotic haloperidol increases both PPI and cAMP levels specifically in Galphas(*) mice and the cPDE inhibitor rolipram also rescues PPI deficits of Galphas(*) mice. Finally, to block potentially the pathway that leads to cPDE upregulation in Galphas(*) mice, we coexpressed the R(AB) transgene (a dominant-negative regulatory subunit of protein kinase A (PKA)), which fully rescues the reductions in PPI and cAMP caused by Galphas(*). We conclude that expression of Galphas(*) within forebrain neurons causes PPI deficits because of a PKA-dependent decrease in cAMP and suggest that cAMP PDE inhibitors may exhibit antipsychotic-like therapeutic effects.
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MESH Headings
- Acoustic Stimulation/methods
- Amphetamine/pharmacology
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Brain Chemistry/drug effects
- Cyclic AMP/analogs & derivatives
- Cyclic AMP/metabolism
- Cyclic AMP/pharmacology
- Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/physiology
- Dopamine Antagonists/pharmacology
- Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs/genetics
- GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs/metabolism
- Gait Disorders, Neurologic/etiology
- Gait Disorders, Neurologic/genetics
- Gait Disorders, Neurologic/metabolism
- Haloperidol/pharmacology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neurons/drug effects
- Neurons/metabolism
- Prosencephalon/cytology
- Prosencephalon/metabolism
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Reflex, Startle/drug effects
- Reflex, Startle/physiology
- Thionucleotides/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele P Kelly
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Metzger KL, Shoemaker JM, Kahn JB, Maxwell CR, Liang Y, Tokarczyk J, Kanes SJ, Hans M, Lowman AM, Dan N, Winey KI, Swerdlow NR, Siegel SJ. Pharmacokinetic and behavioral characterization of a long-term antipsychotic delivery system in rodents and rabbits. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2007; 190:201-11. [PMID: 17119931 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-006-0616-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2006] [Accepted: 10/13/2006] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Non-adherence with medication remains the major correctable cause of poor outcome in schizophrenia. However, few treatments have addressed this major determinant of outcome with novel long-term delivery systems. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to provide biological proof of concept for a long-term implantable antipsychotic delivery system in rodents and rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS Implantable formulations of haloperidol were created using biodegradable polymers. Implants were characterized for in vitro release and in vivo behavior using prepulse inhibition of startle in rats and mice, as well as pharmacokinetics in rabbits. RESULTS Behavioral measures demonstrate the effectiveness of haloperidol implants delivering 1 mg/kg in mice and 0.6 mg/kg in rats to block amphetamine (10 mg/kg) in mice or apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) in rats. Additionally, we demonstrate the pattern of release from single polymer implants for 1 year in rabbits. CONCLUSIONS The current study suggests that implantable formulations are a viable approach to providing long-term delivery of antipsychotic medications in vivo using animal models of behavior and pharmacokinetics. In contrast to depot formulations, implantable formulations could last 6 months or longer. Additionally, implants can be removed throughout the delivery interval, offering a degree of reversibility not available with depot formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla L Metzger
- Stanley Center for Experimental Therapeutics in Psychiatry, Translational Research Laboratories, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Moberg PJ, McGue C, Kanes SJ, Roalf DR, Balderston CC, Gur RE, Kohler CG, Turetsky BI. Phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) perception in patients with schizophrenia and first-degree family members: relationship to clinical symptomatology and psychophysical olfactory performance. Schizophr Res 2007; 90:221-8. [PMID: 17208411 PMCID: PMC1862680 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2006.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2006] [Revised: 11/18/2006] [Accepted: 11/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The inability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC; "taste-blindness") has been associated with a number of medical and neurological illnesses not typically related to taste. We examined PTC sensitivity in 67 schizophrenia patients, 30 healthy controls, and 30 first-degree relatives to determine whether taster status could represent a simple vulnerability marker. A higher prevalence of non-tasters was seen in patients and family members relative to healthy controls. Among patients, non-tasters exhibited increased levels of negative and first-rank symptoms as well as poorer right nostril odor identification skills relative to PTC tasters. These differences were not explained by age, sex, education, smoking, or intensity differences. Phenotypic variation in PTC sensitivity is thought to be genetic in origin and suggests greater illness risk for those subjects with recessive taster alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Moberg
- Schizophrenia Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Moberg PJ, Arnold SE, Doty RL, Gur RE, Balderston CC, Roalf DR, Gur RC, Kohler CG, Kanes SJ, Siegel SJ, Turetsky BI. Olfactory functioning in schizophrenia: relationship to clinical, neuropsychological, and volumetric MRI measures. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2006; 28:1444-61. [PMID: 17050269 DOI: 10.1080/13803390500434409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Deficits in odor identification and detection threshold sensitivity have been observed in schizophrenia but their relationship to clinical, cognitive, and biologic measures have not been clearly established. Our objectives were to examine the relationship between measures of odor identification and detection threshold sensitivity and clinical, neuropsychological, and anatomic brain measures. Twenty-one patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls were administered psychophysical tests of odor identification and detection threshold sensitivity to phenyl ethyl alcohol. In addition, clinical symptom ratings, neuropsychological measures of frontal and temporal lobe function and whole brain MRIs were concurrently obtained. Patients exhibited significant deficits in odor identification but normal detection threshold sensitivity. Poorer odor identification scores were associated with longer duration of illness, increased negative and disorganized symptoms, and the deficit syndrome, as well as impairments in verbal and nonverbal memory. Better odor detection thresholds were specifically associated with first-rank or productive symptoms. Larger left temporal lobe volumes with MRI were associated with better odor identification in controls but not in patients. Given the relevance of the neural substrate, and the evidence of performance deficits, psychophysical probes of the integrity of the olfactory system hold special promise for illuminating aspects of the neurobiology underlying schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Moberg
- Schizophrenia Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Abstract
Previous studies suggest that circulating glucocorticoids may influence the encoding and processing of sensory stimuli. The current study investigated this hypothesis by measuring the generation (amplitude), gating (recovery cycle), and sensitivity (intensity function) of auditory evoked responses in C57BL/6 mice treated with chronic corticosterone (0, 1, 5, 15, or 30 mg/kg/day for 14 days). We found that low-dose corticosterone (5 but not 1 mg/kg/day) enhanced the amplitude and improved gating of evoked potentials without affecting the intensity function. In comparison, higher doses (15 and 30 mg/kg/day) decreased the amplitude and impaired gating of evoked potentials, also without altering the stimulus intensity function. At all doses, lower amplitudes of evoked potentials were significantly correlated with higher circulating corticosterone levels. These data highlight the need to consider serum glucocorticoid levels when assessing human disease states associated with aberrations of information processing such as schizophrenia and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina R Maxwell
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Siegel SJ, Irani F, Brensinger CM, Kohler CG, Bilker WB, Ragland JD, Kanes SJ, Gur RC, Gur RE. Prognostic variables at intake and long-term level of function in schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163:433-41. [PMID: 16513864 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.163.3.433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study assessed the relationship between symptoms and cognitive measures at intake and functional outcome 2-8 years later (average 3 years) in first-episode and previously treated schizophrenia patients. METHOD A composite cognitive score was assessed at intake to determine the influence of cognition on later functional outcome. At intake and follow-up, positive and negative symptoms were assessed with the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and affective symptoms were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Level of function in seven domains (social function, occupational function, independent living, symptom severity, fullness of life, extent of psychiatric hospitalization, and overall level of function) at intake and follow-up was assessed with the Strauss-Carpenter Level of Function scale. The contributions of sex, education, and duration of illness to functional outcome were also examined. RESULTS The results indicated that symptoms at intake had distinct patterns of prognostic significance for functional outcome in previously treated patients, compared with first-episode patients. In addition, male and female patients differed in the degree to which initial symptoms were correlated with later function. CONCLUSIONS Initial level of function, symptoms, sex, education, and duration of illness are all important predictors for functional outcome in patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Siegel
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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30
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Maxwell CR, Ehrlichman RS, Liang Y, Trief D, Kanes SJ, Karp J, Siegel SJ. Ketamine produces lasting disruptions in encoding of sensory stimuli. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2005; 316:315-24. [PMID: 16192313 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.105.091199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study analyzed the acute, chronic, and lasting effects of ketamine administration in four inbred mouse strains (C3H/HeHsd, C57BL/6Hsd, FVB/Hsd, and DBA/2Hsd) to evaluate vulnerability to ketamine as a drug of abuse and as a model of schizophrenia. Serum half-life of ketamine was similar between all strains (approximately 13 min). Also, the ratio of brain-to-serum ketamine levels was 3:1. Examination of multiple phases of auditory processing using auditory-evoked potentials (AEPs) following acute ketamine (0, 5, and 20 mg/kg) treatment revealed C3H/HeHsd mice to be most vulnerable to ketamine-induced alterations in AEPs, whereas FVB/Hsd mice exhibited the least electrophysiological sensitivity to ketamine. Overall, the precortical P1-evoked potential component increased in amplitude and latency, whereas the cortically generated N1 and P2 components decreased in amplitude and latency following acute ketamine across all strains. Brain catecholamine analyses indicated that ketamine decreased hippocampus epinephrine levels in C3H/HeHsd but elevated hippocampus epinephrine levels in FVB/Hsd, suggesting one potential mechanism for AEP vulnerability to ketamine. Based on results of the acute study, the immediate and lasting effects of chronic low-dose ketamine on AEPs were examined among C3H/HeHsd (sensitive) and FVB/Hsd (insensitive) mice. We observed a decrement of the N1 amplitude that persisted at least 1 week after the last exposure to ketamine across both strains. This lasting deficit in information processing occurred in the absence of acute changes among the FVB/Hsd mice. Implications for both ketamine abuse and N-methyl-D-aspartate hypofunction models of schizophrenia are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina R Maxwell
- Division of Neuropsychiatry and Stanley Center for Experimental Therapeutics in Psychiatry, Clinical Research Bldg., Rm. 145a, 415 Ci Blvd., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The inability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) has been associated with medical and neurological illnesses not typically related to taste. The authors examined PTC sensitivity in schizophrenia patients and their non-ill relatives to determine whether this represented a vulnerability marker. METHOD PTC sensitivity was assessed in 42 schizophrenia patients, 23 healthy comparison subjects, and 12 first-degree relatives of the patients. RESULTS More nontasters were found among patients and family members than healthy comparison subjects. Among patients, nontasters had more positive symptoms. Differences were not explained by sex, age, medication, smoking, or cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of PTC nontasters was greater among schizophrenia patients and non-ill first-degree family members. Phenotypic variation in PTC sensitivity is genetic in origin. This suggests a higher risk for illness among subjects with recessive alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Moberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Maxwell CR, Kanes SJ, Abel T, Siegel SJ. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors: a novel mechanism for receptor-independent antipsychotic medications. Neuroscience 2005; 129:101-7. [PMID: 15489033 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/30/2004] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OVERVIEW All current antipsychotic medications work by binding to Gi-coupled dopamine (DA) D2 receptors. Such medications are thought to affect cellular function primarily by decreasing DA-mediated regulation of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP).However, several studies indicate that cAMP signal transduction abnormalities in schizophrenia may not be limited to D2-containing cells. The current study examines the potential of using non-receptor-based agents that modify intracellular signal transduction as potential antipsychotic medications. METHODS The indirect DA agonist amphetamine has been used to model the auditory sensory processing deficits in schizophrenia. Such pharmacologically induced abnormalities are reversed by current antipsychotic treatments. This study examines the ability of the phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, rolipram, to reverse amphetamine-induced abnormalities in auditory-evoked potentials that are characteristic of schizophrenia. RESULTS Rolipram reverses amphetamine-induced reductions in auditory-evoked potentials. CONCLUSION This finding could lead to novel approaches to receptor-independent treatments for schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Maxwell
- Stanley Center for Experimental Therapeutics in Psychiatry, Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Siegel SJ, Maxwell CR, Majumdar S, Trief DF, Lerman C, Gur RE, Kanes SJ, Liang Y. Monoamine reuptake inhibition and nicotine receptor antagonism reduce amplitude and gating of auditory evoked potentials. Neuroscience 2005; 133:729-38. [PMID: 15908134 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2005] [Revised: 03/15/2005] [Accepted: 03/25/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensory encoding deficits have been extensively studied as endophenotypic markers of schizophrenia using auditory evoked potentials. In order to increase understanding of the neurochemical basis of such deficits, we utilized an animal model to test whether monoamine reuptake inhibition and nicotine receptor antagonism reduce the amplitude and gating of the P20 and N40 auditory components. METHODS C57BL/6J mice received 12 days of chronic vehicle, bupropion, haloperidol or bupropion plus haloperidol. Auditory evoked potentials were then recorded in alert mice to measure the amplitude and gating of evoked components during a paired click paradigm similar to tasks used to measure the P50 and N100 auditory potentials in schizophrenia. Evoked potentials were recorded prior to and following acute nicotine. RESULTS Bupropion reduced the amplitude and gating of the N40 evoked potential in mice, similar to the P50 and N100 endophenotypes associated with sensory encoding deficits in schizophrenia. This deficit was fully reversed only by the combination of haloperidol and nicotine, suggesting that dopamine reuptake inhibition and nicotine antagonism both contribute to the observed phenotype. Furthermore, nicotine increased P20 amplitude across all groups supporting a role for nicotine agonists in pre-attentive sensory encoding deficits. CONCLUSIONS We propose that the combination of monoamine inhibition and nicotine receptor antagonism may serve as a useful model for preclinical screening of pharmaceutical compounds aimed at treating sensory encoding deficits in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Siegel
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Yang W, Wang Q, Kanes SJ, Murray JM, Nishikura K. Altered RNA editing of serotonin 5-HT2C receptor induced by interferon: implications for depression associated with cytokine therapy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 124:70-8. [PMID: 15093687 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbrainres.2004.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Members of the ADAR (adenosine deaminases acting on RNA) gene family are involved in one type of RNA editing that converts adenosine residues to inosine. The A-to-I editing of serotonin receptor subtype 2C (5-HT(2C)R) mRNA leads to replacement of three amino acid residues located within the intracellular loop II domain, resulting in dramatic alterations in G-protein coupling functions of the receptor. It has been speculated that RNA editing may play a role in several pharmacological and behavioral processes where the serotonergic plasticity is mediated through 5-HT(2C)R. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) often causes severe depression in patients treated for chronic viral hepatitis and certain malignancies. In this study, we examined the effects of IFN-alpha on RNA editing in human glioblastoma cell lines, which express 5-HT(2C)R mRNAs. ADAR1 expression and the pattern of the 5-HT(2C)R mRNA editing rapidly changed in response to IFN-alpha, leading to the dominant expression of the 5-HT(2C)R-VSI isoform predicted to have reduced G-protein coupling functions. Our results support the hypothesis that 5-HT(2C)R mRNA editing has causative relevance in the pathophysiology of depression associated with cytokine therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Yang
- The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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35
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Connolly PM, Maxwell C, Liang Y, Kahn JB, Kanes SJ, Abel T, Gur RE, Turetsky BI, Siegel SJ. The Effects of Ketamine Vary Among Inbred Mouse Strains and Mimic Schizophrenia for the P80, but not P20 or N40 Auditory ERP Components. Neurochem Res 2004; 29:1179-88. [PMID: 15176475 DOI: 10.1023/b:nere.0000023605.68408.fb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists produce behavioral and electrophysiological effects similar to schizophrenia. The mouse P20, N40, and P80 event related potential (ERP) components were analyzed for genetic variance among inbred strains and ketamine-induced differences to model abnormalities in the P50, N100, and P200 in schizophrenia. Ketamine increased P20/N40 amplitude and decreased P80 amplitude. Therefore, the effects of ketamine in mice are inconsistent with alterations in the corresponding P50 and N100 in schizophrenia, suggesting that NMDA receptor dysfunction may not underlie abnormalities of these components in schizophrenia. However, the effects of ketamine on the mouse P80 were consistent with P200 ERP changes in schizophrenia and support the hypothesis that NMDA dysfunction may contribute to some neuronal abnormalities in schizophrenia. The current study lays the groundwork for defining the role of NMDA-mediated transmission for specific aspects of neuronal processing that vary with genetic background. Future studies could use transcription profiling to clarify such interactions between genetic background, specific neuronal circuits, and transmitter systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Connolly
- Stanley Center for Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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36
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Irani F, Dankert M, Brensinger C, Bilker WB, Nair SR, Kohler CG, Kanes SJ, Turetsky BI, Moberg PJ, Ragland JD, Gur RC, Gur RE, Siegel SJ. Patient attitudes towards surgically implantable, long-term delivery of psychiatric medicine. Neuropsychopharmacology 2004; 29:960-8. [PMID: 14970826 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The introduction of surgically implantable medication delivery systems provides psychiatric patients with reversible, uninterrupted access to medication for up to 14 months. This study designed and administered a survey to assess patients' attitudes and beliefs towards illness, medication, and this potential new treatment method. The survey included questions about demographics, insight and attitudes towards illness, current and past medication adherence, attitudes towards psychiatric and nonpsychiatric medications, and understanding and attitudes towards surgical implants. The sample of 206 psychiatric patients was almost equally split between favorably and unfavorably considering implants. Patients favorable towards implants ascribed forgetting and failure to refill medication on time as the reasons for missing doses, recognized the benefits of medication in general, and understood that the implant would be inserted under the skin. Favorable consideration of implants was positively correlated with the desire to avoid adverse consequences of missing medicine, stay well, avoid the need for daily oral medications, and decrease family burden. Unfavorable consideration of implants was related to a preference to take medication orally, concern about feeling controlled, unwillingness to try something new, and not understanding that the implant would be placed under the skin. Demographic variables, past/current medications, specific diagnosis, and illness severity did not influence the decision. This survey elucidates patients' attitudes and beliefs towards illness, medication, and surgical implants. The results indicate that a significant proportion of patients recognize the difficulties of medication adherence and the need for better methods to attain therapeutic response. Thus, the study provides impetus for future work in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzin Irani
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Stanley Center for Experimental Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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37
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Maxwell CR, Liang Y, Weightman BD, Kanes SJ, Abel T, Gur RE, Turetsky BI, Bilker WB, Lenox RH, Siegel SJ. Effects of chronic olanzapine and haloperidol differ on the mouse N1 auditory evoked potential. Neuropsychopharmacology 2004; 29:739-46. [PMID: 14735128 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Auditory evoked potentials have been used in a variety of animal models to assess information-processing impairments in schizophrenia. Previous mouse models have primarily employed a paired click paradigm to assess the transient measures of auditory gating. The current study uses stimulus trains at varied interstimulus intervals (ISI) between 0.25 and 8 s in mice to assess the effects of chronic olanzapine and haloperidol on auditory processing. Data indicate that olanzapine increases the amplitude of the N40, P80, and P20/N40 components of the auditory evoked potential, whereas haloperidol had no such effect. The ISI paradigm also allowed for an evaluation of several components of the mouse evoked potential to assess those that display response properties similar to the human P50 and N100. Data suggest that the mouse N40 displays an ISI response relationship that shares characteristics with the human N100, whereas the P20 appears more consistent with the human P50 across the ISI range evaluated in this task. This study suggests that olanzapine may help improve N100 impairments seen in schizophrenia, while haloperidol does not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina R Maxwell
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Stanley Center for Experimental Therapeutics in Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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38
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Gould TJ, Bizily SP, Tokarczyk J, Kelly MP, Siegel SJ, Kanes SJ, Abel T. Sensorimotor gating deficits in transgenic mice expressing a constitutively active form of Gs alpha. Neuropsychopharmacology 2004; 29:494-501. [PMID: 14694347 PMCID: PMC3348581 DOI: 10.1038/sj.npp.1300309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a complex disorder characterized by wide-ranging cognitive impairments, including deficits in learning as well as sensory gating. The causes of schizophrenia are unknown, but alterations in intracellular G-protein signaling pathways are among the molecular changes documented in patients with schizophrenia. Using the CaMKIIalpha promoter to drive expression in neurons within the forebrain, we have developed transgenic mice that express a constitutively active form of G(s)alpha (G(s)alpha(*)), the G protein that couples receptors such as the D(1) and D(5) dopamine receptors to adenylyl cyclase. We have also generated mice in which the CaMKIIalpha promoter drives expression of a dominant-negative form of protein kinase A, R(AB). Here, we examine startle responses and prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI) in these G(s)alpha(*) and R(AB) transgenic mice. G(s)alpha(*) transgenic mice exhibited selective deficits in PPI, without exhibiting alterations in the startle response, whereas no deficit in startle or PPI was found in the R(AB) transgenic mice. Thus, overstimulation of the cAMP/PKA pathway disrupts PPI, but the cAMP/PKA pathway may not be essential for sensorimotor gating. G(s)alpha(*) transgenic mice may provide an animal model of certain endophenotypes of schizophrenia, because of the similarities between them and patients with schizophrenia in G-protein function, hippocampus-dependent learning, and sensorimotor gating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Gould
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Scott P Bizily
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jan Tokarczyk
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michele P Kelly
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Steven J Siegel
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephen J Kanes
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Correspondence: Dr T Abel, Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 319 Leidy Labs, 38th and Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA, Tel: +1 215 898 5614, Fax: +1 215 898 8780,
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Gur RE, Kohler C, Turetsky BI, Siegel SJ, Kanes SJ, Bilker WB, Brennan AR, Gur RC. A sexually dimorphic ratio of orbitofrontal to amygdala volume is altered in schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 2004; 55:512-7. [PMID: 15023579 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2003.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2003] [Revised: 10/10/2003] [Accepted: 10/15/2003] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroanatomic sexual dimorphisms have been correlated with behavioral differences between healthy men and women. We have reported higher orbitofrontal cortex to amygdala ratio (OAR) in women than men. Although gender differences in schizophrenia are evident clinically and correlate with neuroanatomic measures, their relationship to OAR has not been examined. METHODS Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 31 neuroleptic-naïve schizophrenic patients (16 men) and 80 healthy volunteers (34 men), aged less than 50 years. An automated tissue segmentation procedure was combined with expert-guided parcellation of orbitofrontal and amygdala volumes. RESULTS Men with schizophrenia had increased OAR relative to healthy men, whereas women had decreased OAR. Increased OAR in men with schizophrenia reflected abnormally low amygdala volumes, whereas decreased OAR in women reflected abnormally low orbitofrontal volumes. Less severe negative symptoms were associated with increased OAR in men but with decreased OAR in women. In men, increased amygdala volume was associated with greater symptom severity, whereas in women higher volumes of both amygdala and orbitofrontal regions were associated with lesser severity of negative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS These opposite OAR abnormalities, whereby men show feminization and women masculinization, suggest gender-mediated effects of the underlying neuropathologic processes. The correlations with symptom severity suggest that neuroanatomic abnormalities in OAR reflect compensatory brain changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel E Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Schizophrenia Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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40
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Connolly PM, Maxwell CR, Kanes SJ, Abel T, Liang Y, Tokarczyk J, Bilker WB, Turetsky BI, Gur RE, Siegel SJ. Inhibition of auditory evoked potentials and prepulse inhibition of startle in DBA/2J and DBA/2Hsd inbred mouse substrains. Brain Res 2003; 992:85-95. [PMID: 14604776 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2003.08.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Previous data have shown differences among inbred mouse strains in sensory gating of auditory evoked potentials, prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle, and startle amplitude. These measures of sensory and sensorimotor gating have both been proposed as models for genetic determinants of sensory processing abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives. Data from our laboratory suggest that auditory evoked potentials of DBA/2J mice differ from those previously described for DBA/2Hsd. Therefore, we compared evoked potentials and PPI in these two closely related substrains based on the hypothesis that any observed endophenotypic differences are more likely to distinguish relevant from incidental genetic heterogeneity than similar approaches using inbred strains that vary across the entire genome. We found that DBA/2Hsd substrain exhibited reduced inhibition of evoked potentials and reduced startle relative to the DBA/2J substrain without alterations in auditory sensitivity, amplitude of evoked potentials or PPI of startle. These results suggest that gating of auditory evoked potentials and PPI of startle measure different aspects of neuronal function. The differences between the substrains might reflect genetic drift. Alternatively, differences could arise from different rearing environments or other non-genetic factors. Future studies will attempt to determine the cause of these differences in sensory and sensorimotor processing between these two closely related inbred mouse strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Connolly
- Stanley Center for Experimental Therapeutics in Psychiatry, Division of Neuropsychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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41
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The authors used color photographs of emotional and neutral expressions to investigate recognition patterns of five universal emotions in schizophrenia. METHOD Twenty-eight stable outpatients with schizophrenia (19 men and nine women) and 61 healthy subjects (29 men and 32 women) completed an emotion discrimination test that presented mild and extreme intensities of happy, sad, angry, fearful, disgusted, and neutral faces, balanced for gender and ethnicity. Analyses evaluated accuracy of identifying emotions as a function of intensity, diagnosis, and gender of poser and rater. RESULTS Patients performed worse than comparison subjects on recognition of all emotions and neutral faces combined, including mild and extreme expressions. For specific emotions, patients performed worse on recognition of fearful, disgusted, and neutral expressions. For all emotions except disgust, recognition of extreme intensity was better than recognition of mild intensity. However, patients showed less benefit from increased intensity for all emotions combined, and the difference was most pronounced for fear. Thus, patients were more impaired than healthy comparison subjects in identifying high-intensity expressions, even though this was an easier task than identifying low-intensity expressions. In the comparison of patterns of errors, patients and healthy subjects differed only in misattributions of neutral expressions; patients overattributed disgusted expressions and underattributed happy expressions. CONCLUSIONS Patients with schizophrenia were impaired in overall emotion recognition, particularly fear and disgust, and did not benefit from increased emotional intensity. Error patterns indicate that patients misidentified neutral cues as negatively valenced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian G Kohler
- Neuropsychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Potenza MN, Holmes JP, Kanes SJ, McDougle CJ. Olanzapine treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with pervasive developmental disorders: an open-label pilot study. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1999; 19:37-44. [PMID: 9934941 DOI: 10.1097/00004714-199902000-00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This pilot study examined the efficacy and tolerability of olanzapine in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). Eight patients with principal diagnoses (DSM-IV) of autistic disorder (N = 5) or PDD not otherwise specified (N = 3) were given olanzapine in an open-label, prospective fashion for 12 weeks. Clinical ratings were obtained at baseline and at the end of weeks (EOWs) 4, 8, and 12. Seven of eight patients completed the 12-week trial, and six of the completers were deemed clinical responders as measured by ratings at the EOW 12 of "much improved" or "very much improved" on the global improvement item of the Clinical Global Impression Scale. Significant improvements in overall symptoms of autism, motor restlessness or hyperactivity, social relatedness, affectual reactions, sensory responses, language usage, self-injurious behavior, aggression, irritability or anger, anxiety, and depression were observed. Significant changes in repetitive behaviors were not observed for the group. The EOW 12 mean +/- SD daily dose of olanzapine was 7.8 +/- 4.7 mg/day. The drug was well tolerated with the most significant adverse effects noted to be increased appetite and weight gain in six patients and sedation in three. With respect to weight gain, the mean +/- SD weight for the group increased from 137.50 +/- 55.81 pounds (62.50 +/- 25.37 kilograms) at baseline to 155.94 +/- 55.13 pounds (70.88 +/- 25.06 kilograms) at EOW 12. No evidence of extrapyramidal side effects or liver function abnormalities was seen. These preliminary results suggest that olanzapine may be an effective and well tolerated drug in targeting core and related symptoms of PDDs in children, adolescents, and adults. Further studies, particularly those that are placebo-controlled and double-blinded, are indicated to better define the clinical use of olanzapine in these patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M N Potenza
- Connecticut Mental Health Center, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
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Laruelle M, D'Souza CD, Baldwin RM, Abi-Dargham A, Kanes SJ, Fingado CL, Seibyl JP, Zoghbi SS, Bowers MB, Jatlow P, Charney DS, Innis RB. Imaging D2 receptor occupancy by endogenous dopamine in humans. Neuropsychopharmacology 1997; 17:162-74. [PMID: 9272483 DOI: 10.1016/s0893-133x(97)00043-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The impact of endogenous dopamine on in vivo measurement of D2 receptors in humans was evaluated with single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) by comparing the binding potential (BP) of the selective D2 radiotracer [123I]IBZM before and after acute dopamine depletion. Dopamine depletion was achieved by administration of the tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitor alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT), given orally at a dose of 1 g every six hours for two days. AMPT increased [123I]IBZM BP by 28 +/- 16% (+/- SD, n = 9). Experiments in rodents suggested that this effect was due to removal of endogenous dopamine rather than D2 receptor upregulation. Synaptic dopamine concentration was estimated as 45 +/- 25 nM, in agreement with values reported in rodents. The amplitude and the variability of the AMPT effect suggested that competition by endogenous dopamine introduces a significant error in measurement of D2 receptors in vivo with positron emission tomography (PET) or SPECT. However, these results also imply that D2 receptor imaging coupled with acute dopamine depletion might provide estimates of synaptic dopamine concentration in the living human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Laruelle
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Kanes SJ, Hitzemann BA, Hitzemann RJ. On the relationship between D2 receptor density and neuroleptic-induced catalepsy among eight inbred strains of mice. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 1993; 267:538-47. [PMID: 7901398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study assesses the relationships among ED50 to neuroleptic-induced catalepsy and regional brain D1 and D2 dopamine receptor binding for eight inbred strains of mice (A, AKR, BALB/c, C3H, C57BL/6, CBA, DBA/2 and LP). The ED50 for haloperidol among these strains varies 30-fold from the most sensitive (BALB/c 0.31 mg/kg) to least sensitive (LP 9.5 mg/kg). As measured by quantitative receptor autoradiography, the haloperidol ED50 shows a significant positive correlation with [3H]spiroperidol binding to somatodendritic autoreceptors in the midbrain dopamine cell groups (A8, A9 and A10), but not with binding in the striatum. Although there are strain differences in [3H]SCH23390 binding in all regions studied, D1 receptor density was not correlated with haloperidol ED50. Within the striatum of these eight strains, there is no correlation between [3H]spiroperidol binding and [3H]SCH23390 binding. Overall, these data indicate that sensitivity to neuroleptic induced catalepsy is a genetically determined trait and that midbrain D2 receptor density may contribute significantly to the variance in this response.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Kanes
- Department of Psychiatry, State University of New York at Stony Brook
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