A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Two-Period Cross-Over, Proof of Activity Study to Evaluate the Effects of TAK-041 on Motivational Anhedonia as Add-On to Antipsychotics in Participants With Stable Schizophrenia

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled, Two-Period Cross-Over, Proof of Activity Study to Evaluate the Effects of TAK-041 on Motivational Anhedonia as Add-On to Antipsychotics in Subjects With Stable Schizophrenia

The purpose of the study is to determine whether motivation/reward deficits observed in schizophrenia are attenuated and whether cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia is improved by add-on TAK-041 administration to antipsychotics in participants with stable schizophrenia.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stable Schizophrenia
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: TAK-041; Drug: Placebo; Drug: Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGA)

Detailed Description

The drug being tested in this study is called TAK-041. TAK-041 is being tested to treat people who have stable schizophrenia. This study will look whether motivation/reward deficits observed in schizophrenia are attenuated and whether cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia is improved in people who take TAK-041 in addition to standard care.

The study will enroll approximately 32 patients. Participants will be randomly assigned (by chance, like flipping a coin) in 1:1 ratio to one of the two treatment sequences -which will remain undisclosed to the patient and study doctor during the study (unless there is an urgent medical need) to receive either TAK-041 40 mg or Placebo first and then will be crossed over to receive the opposite Intervention.

All participants will be asked to take oral suspension on Day 1 of each Period. There will be a wash-out Period of 35 days between the dosing days in Period 1 and 2.

This single-center trial will be conducted in the United Kingdom. The overall time to participate in this study is approximately 126 to 154 days. Participants will make multiple visits to the clinic plus a final visit 77 days after receiving their last dose of drug for a follow-up assessment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 23
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • London, United Kingdom, SE58AF
    • Kings College London

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Is on a stable dose of antipsychotics for at least 2 months as documented by medical history and assessed by site staff (other than those on the excluded medication list).
2. Meets schizophrenia criteria as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).
3. Have Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score less than or equal to (<=) 90 and PANSS Negative Symptom Factor Score ([NSFS]; Sum of PANSS N1, N2, N3, N4, N6, G7, and G16) greater than or equal to (>=) 15 at screening and baseline (Day -1).
4. Has stable Screening and baseline (Day-1) PANSS and NSFS total scores (less than [<] 20 percent [%] change).
5. Have had a structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) within the preceding year or during screening indicating no concerning structural brain abnormalities or other abnormalities that would interfere with interpretation of functional brain imaging results.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has a history of cancer (malignancy).
2. Has a positive alcohol and/ or positive drug screen at Screening or Day -1.
3. Is positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C (HCV) antibody, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody/antigen (confirmatory testing is allowed; most sensitive test should take precedence).
4. Had major surgery, or donated or lost 1 unit of blood (approximately 500 milliliters [mL]) within 4 weeks prior to the pretrial/Screening Visit.
5. Has abnormal Screening or baseline laboratory values (>upper limit of normal [ULN] for the respective serum chemistries) of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBILI), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) confirmed upon repeat testing, 5'-nucleotidase (Screening only), and/or abnormal urine osmolality, confirmed upon repeat testing.
6. Meets DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder or history of alcohol abuse within 1 month prior to Screening Visit.
7. Has a history of claustrophobia or inability to tolerate mock scanner environment during habituation/screening session.
8. Fulfills any of the MRI contraindications on the site standard radiography screening document.
9. Has a history in the last year from the randomization visit or is currently receiving treatment with clozapine.
10. Has a current diagnosis of a significant psychiatric illness other than schizophrenia, per DSM-5 and is in an acute phase or episode.
11. Has a risk of suicide according to the investigator's clinical judgment (example, per C-SSRS positive answers on questions 4 or 5 or has made a suicide attempt within 6 months prior to screening visit).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Treatment Sequence 1: TAK-041 40 mg/Placebo + Antipsychotics; TAK-041 40 milligram (mg), suspension, orally on Day 1 of Treatment Period 1, followed by 35 day Wash-out Period, followed by TAK-041 placebo-matching, suspension, orally on Day 1 of Treatment Period 2. All participants received a stable dose of antipsychotics as per standard of care throughout the duration of the Treatment Period.	Drug: TAK-041; TAK-041 suspension; Drug: Placebo; TAK-041 placebo-matching suspension; Drug: Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGA); Second generation antipsychotics included risperidone, paliperidone, iloperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone, asenapine and lurasidone.
Experimental: Treatment Sequence 2: Placebo/TAK-041 40 mg + Antipsychotics; TAK-041 placebo-matching, suspension, orally on Day 1 of Treatment Period 1, followed by 35 days Wash-out Period, followed by TAK-041 40 mg, suspension, orally on Day 1 of Treatment Period 2. All participants received a stable dose of antipsychotics as per standard of care throughout the duration of the Treatment Period.	Drug: TAK-041; TAK-041 suspension; Drug: Placebo; TAK-041 placebo-matching suspension; Drug: Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGA); Second generation antipsychotics included risperidone, paliperidone, iloperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone, asenapine and lurasidone.
Experimental: Treatment Sequence 3: TAK-041 160 mg/Placebo + Antipsychotics; TAK-041 160 mg, suspension, orally on Day 1 of Treatment Period 1, followed by 35 days Wash-out Period, followed by TAK-041 placebo-matching, suspension, orally on Day 1 of Treatment Period 2. All participants received stable dose of antipsychotics as per standard of care throughout the duration of the Treatment Period.	Drug: TAK-041; TAK-041 suspension; Drug: Placebo; TAK-041 placebo-matching suspension; Drug: Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGA); Second generation antipsychotics included risperidone, paliperidone, iloperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone, asenapine and lurasidone.
Experimental: Treatment Sequence 4: Placebo/TAK-041 160 mg + Antipsychotics; TAK-041 placebo-matching, suspension, orally on Day 1 of Treatment Period 1, followed by 35 days Wash-out Period, followed by TAK-041 160 mg, suspension, orally on Day 1 of Treatment Period 2. All participants received stable dose of antipsychotics as per standard of care throughout the duration of the Treatment Period.	Drug: TAK-041; TAK-041 suspension; Drug: Placebo; TAK-041 placebo-matching suspension; Drug: Second Generation Antipsychotics (SGA); Second generation antipsychotics included risperidone, paliperidone, iloperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, ziprasidone, asenapine and lurasidone.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline in the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS) Composite Score at Second Testing After TAK-041 Administration	BACS is a reliable and sensitive measure of cognitive function in schizophrenia. The BACS consists of items across six subtests: Verbal Memory, Digit Sequencing, Token Motor, Verbal Fluency, Symbol Coding, and Tower of London. The subtest scale scores were used to compute a composite BACS t-score of 50 (20) is the mean (standard deviation) of a relevant index population. Higher values indicate better performance. Bayesian normal linear model was used for analysis.	Baseline (Day -1) and Day 14
Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent (BOLD) Signal in the Average Ventral Striatum (VS) Region of Interest (ROI) Activation in the Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) Reward Task at First Testing After TAK-041 Administration	Blood-oxygen-level-dependent imaging, or BOLD-contrast imaging, is a method used in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe different areas of the brain or other organs, which are found to be active at any given time. The MID task is a reward anticipation paradigm that robustly engages the VS, a key area associated with coding incentive reward. Dysfunctional processing of reward information is associated with motivational impairments in schizophrenia. Motivational impairment is a key aspect of negative symptoms, and has been associated with reduced activity in the VS. Any change in BOLD signal that comes in fMRI is reported.	Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Participants Who Experience at Least One Treatment Emergent Adverse Event (TEAE)	An Adverse Event (AE) is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical investigation participant administered a drug; it does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. A TEAE is defined as an adverse event with an onset that occurs after receiving study drug.	From the first dose of study drug up to 77 days after last dose of study drug (Up to Day 154)
Percentage of Participants Who Meet the Markedly Abnormal Criteria for Safety Laboratory Tests at Least Once Post Dose	Clinical Laboratory parameters included tests for chemistry, hematology and urinalysis. Markedly abnormal values during treatment period were categorized as: alanine aminotransferase (ALT)>3.0 U/L*upper limit of normal(ULN),albumin<25 g/L*lower limit of normal(LLN), alkaline phosphatase >3.0 U/L*ULN, aspartate aminotransferase >3.0 U/L*ULN, bilirubin >34.2 umol/L*ULN, calcium <1.75 mmol/L, >2.88 mmol/L, chloride <75 mmol/L, >126 mmol/L, creatinine >177umol/L, gamma glutamyl transferase >3 U/L*ULN, glucose <2.8 mmol/L, >19.4 mmol/L, potassium<3 mmol/L, >6 mmol/L, sodium <130 mmol/L, >150 mmol/L,Urea <130 mmol/L, erythrocytes <0.8*LLN >1.2*ULN, hematocrit <0.8*LLN, >1.2*ULN, hemoglobin <0.8 g/L*LLN, >1.2 g/L*ULN, leukocytes <0.5 (10^9/L)*LLN, >1.5 (10^9/L)*ULN, platelets <75(10^9/L), >600(10^9/L).	From the first dose of study drug up to 77 days after last dose of study drug (Up to Day 154)
Percentage of Participants Who Meet the Markedly Abnormal Criteria for Vital Sign Measurements At Least Once Post Dose	Vital signs included oral body temperature measurement, supine and standing blood pressure, respiration rate, and pulse. Pulse and blood pressure were measured after 5 minutes supine and again at 1 and 3 minutes after standing. The markedly abnormal value (MAV) criteria for vital signs included systolic blood pressure < 85 mmHg, > 180 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure < 50 mmHg, > 110 mmHg; pulse < 50 beats/min, > 120 beats/min; temperature < 35.6 C > 37.7 C.	From the first dose of study drug up to 77 days after last dose of study drug (Up to Day 154)
Percentage of Participants Who Meet the Markedly Abnormal Criteria for Safety Electrocardiogram (ECG) at Least Once Post Dose	The markedly abnormal value (MAV) criteria for 12-lead ECG parameters included ECG Mean Heart Rate < 50 beats/min, > 120 beats/min; PR Interval, Aggregate <= 80 msec, >= 200 msec; QRS Duration, Aggregate <= 80 msec, >= 180 msec; QTcB Interval, Aggregate <= 300 msec, >= 500 msec OR (>= 30 msec change from baseline and >= 450 msec); QTcF Interval, Aggregate <= 300 msec, >= 500 msec OR (>= 30 msec change from baseline and >= 450 msec).	From the first dose of study drug up to 77 days after last dose of study drug (Up to Day 154)
Number of Participants With Suicidal Ideation or Suicidal Behavior as Measured Using Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)	Treatment-emergent suicidal ideation (SI) or suicidal behavior (SB) compared to baseline will be measured by an increase in suicidal ideation category (1-5 on the C-SSRS) or suicidal behavior category (6-10 on the C-SSRS) during treatment from the maximum suicidal ideation/behavior category at baseline, or any suicidal ideation/behavior during treatment if there is none at baseline. C-SSRS is used to assess whether participant experienced suicidal ideation (1: wish to be dead; 2: non-specific active suicidal thoughts; 3: active suicidal ideation with any methods (not plan) without intent to act; 4: active suicidal ideation with some intent to act, without specific plan; 5: active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent) and suicidal behavior (6: actual attempt; 7: interrupted attempt; 8: aborted attempt; 9: preparatory acts or behavior; 10: suicidal behavior).	Baseline (Day -1) and Days 14, 35 and 77

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Neurocrine Biosciences
• Collaborators: Takeda

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 21, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 11, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): November 6, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 20, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 20, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): October 24, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 19, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 17, 2021
• Last Verified: March 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Drug therapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia; Anhedonia; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Central Nervous System Depressants; Tranquilizing Agents; Psychotropic Drugs; Antipsychotic Agents
• Other Study ID Numbers: TAK-041-2001; U1111-1191-6915 (Other Identifier: World Health Organisation); 2017-001084-20 (EudraCT Number: European Medicines Agency); 17/YH/0195 (Registry Identifier: NRES); 03319953 (Registry Identifier: ClinicalTrials.gov)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Yes
• IPD Plan Description: Takeda provides access to the de-identified individual participant data (IPD) for eligible studies to aid qualified researchers in addressing legitimate scientific objectives (Takeda's data sharing commitment is available on https://clinicaltrials.takeda.com/takedas-commitment?commitment=5). These IPDs will be provided in a secure research environment following approval of a data sharing request, and under the terms of a data sharing agreement
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: IPD from eligible studies will be shared with qualified researchers according to the criteria and process described on https://vivli.org/ourmember/takeda/. For approved requests, the researchers will be provided access to anonymized data (to respect patient privacy in line with applicable laws and regulations) and with information necessary to address the research objectives under the terms of a data sharing agreement.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: Study Protocol; Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP); Informed Consent Form (ICF); Clinical Study Report (CSR)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No