A Study of Elpipodect (MK-8189) in Participants With Schizophrenia (MK-8189-014)

April 8, 2026 updated by: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

A Multiple Ascending Dose Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, PK and the Effect of MK-8189 on QTc in Participants With Schizophrenia

The primary purpose of this study is to assess the safety and tolerability of multiple ascending doses of elpipodect in participants with schizophrenia.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
53

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Garden Grove, California, United States, 92845
        • Collaborative Neuroscience Research, LLC ( Site 0004)
      • Glendale, California, United States, 91206
        • California Clinical Trials Medical Group managed by PAREXEL ( Site 0002)
    • New Jersey
      • Marlton, New Jersey, United States, 08053
        • Hassman Research Institute Marlton Site ( Site 0003)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 55 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

The main inclusion and exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Meets diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria with the onset of the first episode being no less than 2 years prior to screening and monotherapy with antipsychotics for treatment should be indicated.
  • Is in the non-acute phase of their illness and clinically stable for 3 months prior to screening as demonstrated by: 1) no clinically significant change in dose of prescribed antipsychotic medication, or clinically significant change in antipsychotic medication to treat symptoms of schizophrenia for two months prior to screening; 2) no increase in level of psychiatric care due to worsening of symptoms of schizophrenia for three months prior to screening.
  • Has a history of receiving and tolerating antipsychotic medication within the usual dose range employed for schizophrenia.
  • Is able to discontinue the use of all antipsychotic medication at least 5 days or 3 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to Day -1 and during the study period.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Is at imminent risk of self-harm.
  • Has a history of cancer (malignancy). Exceptions: 1) adequately treated nonmelanomatous skin carcinoma or carcinoma in situ of the cervix; 2) malignancies which have been successfully treated ≥10 years prior to the prestudy (screening) visit; 3) highly unlikely to sustain a recurrence for the duration of the study.
  • Has evidence or history of a primary DSM-5 axis I psychiatric diagnosis other than schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder per the allowed DSM-5 criteria within one month of screening.
  • Has evidence or history of mental retardation, borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorder, or organic brain syndrome.
  • Has a history of neuroleptic malignant syndrome or moderate to severe tardive dyskinesia.
  • Has a substance-induced psychotic disorder or behavioral disturbance thought to be due to substance abuse.
  • Has a DSM-5 defined substance use disorder (excluding nicotine and caffeine) within 3 months of screening.
  • Has a history of seizure disorder beyond childhood or is receiving treatment with any anticonvulsant to prevent seizures.
  • Has a clinically significant history or presence of sick sinus syndrome, first, second, or third degree atrioventricular (AV) block, myocardial infarction, pulmonary congestion, cardiac arrhythmia, prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval, or conduction abnormalities.
  • Meets any of the following cardiac parameters: a history of risk factors for Torsades de Pointes (eg, heart failure/cardiomyopathy or family history of long QT syndrome), uncorrected hypokalemia or hypomagnesemia, or is taking concomitant medications that prolong the QT/QTc interval.
  • Has history of repeated or frequent syncope, vasovagal episodes, or epileptic seizures.
  • Has a family history of cardiac sudden death.
  • Is positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibodies or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
  • Had major surgery, donated or lost 1 unit of blood (approximately 500 mL) within 4 weeks prior to the prestudy (screening) visit.
  • Has received or is currently receiving treatment with clozapine for schizophrenia for any length of time or treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors within 3 months of screening or cariprazine within 2 months of screening.
  • Has received a parenteral depot antipsychotic medication within 3 months of screening.
  • Has received any nonlive vaccine starting from 14 days prior to study intervention or is scheduled to receive any nonlive vaccine through 30 days following study intervention.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Participants will receive MK-8189-matching placebo.
Drug: Placebo
MK-8189 dose-matching placebo tablets will be administered orally QD.
Experimental: Elpipodect Panel A
Participants will receive elpipodect starting at 48 mg on Day 1 and 60 mg on Day 2.
Drug: Elpipodect
MK-8189 4 mg and/or 12 mg tablet(s) will be administered orally QD for a total daily dose of 48 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg.
Other Names:
  • MK-8189
Experimental: Elpipodect Panel A-1
Participants will receive elpipodect 48 mg on Day 1 and 80 mg on Day 2.
Drug: Elpipodect
MK-8189 4 mg and/or 12 mg tablet(s) will be administered orally QD for a total daily dose of 48 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg.
Other Names:
  • MK-8189
Experimental: Elpipodect Panel C
Participants will receive elpipodect 48 mg on Days 1-2 and 80 mg on Day 3 based on safety and tolerability.
Drug: Elpipodect
MK-8189 4 mg and/or 12 mg tablet(s) will be administered orally QD for a total daily dose of 48 mg, 60 mg, 80 mg.
Other Names:
  • MK-8189

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants Experiencing an Adverse Event (AE)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 17 days
An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporarily associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who experienced one or more AEs were reported.
Up to approximately 17 days
Number of Participants Who Discontinue From Study Treatment Due to an AE
Time Frame: Up to approximately 3 days
An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporarily associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who discontinued study due to an AE were reported.
Up to approximately 3 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Medical Director, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 12, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
February 24, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
February 24, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 1, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 1, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 6, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 8, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 8189-014
  • MK-8189-014 (Other Identifier: Merck)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

https://trialstransparency.msdclinicaltrials.com/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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