Longitudinal PET Imaging of Antipsychotic Binding to the Dopamine-3 Receptor in Schizophrenia
15 de julio de 2026 actualizado por: Ragy Girgis, New York State Psychiatric Institute
This is a clinical trial in which 40 participants with schizophrenia will be randomized to 15 days of treatment with cariprazine (CAR) or brexpiprazole (BREX) in a single-blind manner.
[11C]PHNO PET scans will be obtained before treatment and after 1 day and 15 days of treatment to examine the effects of antipsychotic medications on the dopamine-3 receptor (D3R).
The overall objectives of the current study are to: 1) measure the acute binding of CAR/BREX to the D3R; 2) measure D3R availability for evidence of upregulation following subchronic administration of CAR/BREX in the same set of patients; 3) examine relationships between subchronic binding of CAR/BREX to, and upregulation of, the D3R vs. D2R and changes in positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive deficits.
Relationships between subchronic binding of CAR/BREX and EPS will be explored.
Descripción general del estudio
Estado
Aún no reclutando
Intervención / Tratamiento
Descripción detallada
There is a great need for the development of new treatments for schizophrenia (SCZ).
Aside from the recently approved muscarinic agonist xanomeline, all current treatments have been assumed to function by blocking dopamine-2 receptors (D2Rs).
Interest in the dopamine-3 receptor (D3R) was encouraged by preclinical findings that D3R antagonists reverse cognitive impairment and improve negative symptoms.
In vivo imaging of the D3R became possible with the development of [11C]-(+)-PHNO, a D3R-preferring radioligand.
However, while numerous preclinical studies have demonstrated that the D3R is relevant to both the neurobiology and treatment of SCZ, in vivo studies initially and surprisingly reported that, after several weeks of administration, antipsychotic medications may not bind to the D3R and may paradoxically increase levels of the D3R.
These findings were discrepant with our own findings in non-human primates and individuals with SCZ demonstrating that acute doses of antipsychotic medications bind to the D3R and D2R in ratios predicted by their in vitro binding profiles.
In a later study conducted by our group, 10 days of chronic dosing of the D2R-preferring antipsychotic medication brexpiprazole (BREX) also led to increased levels of the D3R at 1mg and negligible binding at 4mg.
Finally, in our study of the D3R-preferring antipsychotic medication cariprazine (CAR), there was robust binding to the D3R and D2R after both acute and subchronic dosing.
These seemingly discrepant findings may be related to methodological differences, differences in the binding profiles of D2R- vs. D3R-preferring antipsychotic medications, or to homeostatic responses to chronic antipsychotic treatment (i.e., upregulation).
Upregulation is a potentially critical, though underexamined, effect common to all D2R/D3R-binding antipsychotic medications, including partial agonists.
It has been hypothesized to be largely responsible for differences in occupancy estimates from single and repeat dose studies and contribute to waning effects of antipsychotic medications and tardive dyskinesia.
The goals of this proposal are to elucidate the contribution of D3R, compared to D2R, binding to antipsychotic action, both acutely (SA1) and subchronically (SA2), in the same patients.
The relationship between occupancy, upregulation, and clinical effects (SA3, EA) will be investigated.
Tipo de estudio
Intervencionista
Inscripción (Estimado)
100
Fase
- Fase 1
Contactos y Ubicaciones
Esta sección proporciona los datos de contacto de quienes realizan el estudio e información sobre dónde se lleva a cabo este estudio.
Estudio Contacto
- Nombre: Ragy Girgis, MD
- Número de teléfono: 646-774-5553
- Correo electrónico: ragy.girgis@nyspi.columbia.edu
Criterios de participación
Los investigadores buscan personas que se ajusten a una determinada descripción, denominada criterio de elegibilidad. Algunos ejemplos de estos criterios son el estado de salud general de una persona o tratamientos previos.
Criterio de elegibilidad
Edades elegibles para estudiar
- Adulto
Acepta Voluntarios Saludables
No
Descripción
Inclusion Criteria:
- Individuals, any gender or sex, aged 18 to 55, inclusive at screen
- Capable of understanding the study procedures and able to provide informed consent
- Diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective, or schizophreniform disorder
- Negative urine toxicology
- Antipsychotic free (by choice and for reasons unrelated to the study), and for at least 3 weeks (4 for aripiprazole or LAIs) at the time of the baseline PET scan, inclusive of any antipsychotic-free time prior to consent. [Any patient who requires inpatient hospitalization or acute medication treatment for clinical stabilization during the medication free period will not be included in this study; any participant who in the clinical judgment of the PIs or any involved clinician is not stable or appropriate for a medication free period will not be included.]
- PANSS total score > 80 and < 120 (inclusive)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of substance use disorder within the previous month
- A history of poor or inadequate response or hypersensitivity to CAR or BREX for any reason
- EKG abnormality that is clinically significant including a QTc interval > 450 msec for men and > 470 msec for women,
- Pregnant or breast-feeding women. Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum β-hCG pregnancy test at Visit 1, must have been using an acceptable method of contraception for 30 days before the study (i.e., before the first PET or MRI scan, whichever comes first), and must agree to do so for the whole study and 30 days after (unless post-menopausal or surgically sterile)
- Any clinically significant or unstable medical/neurological illness, condition, or disorder that is anticipated to potentially compromise participant safety on study medication
- Any material in the body that is a contraindication for MRI procedures or participated in prior nuclear medicine procedures in the past year that exceed FDA-defined limits when combined with radiation dosimetry from PET scanning in this protocol to avoid exceeding annual dosimetry limits (metal screener repeated before MRI scan). Individuals exposed to radiation in the workplace in the previous year will be excluded.
- Acute risk for suicide (i.e., score of 4-5 within the previous month or 6 within the previous 3 months on the CSSRS) or violence/homicide (e.g., homicidal ideation), or history of severe violent behavior or behavioral dyscontrol while antipsychotic-free
- A history of treatment resistance to antipsychotics or who have a duration of illness of greater than 20 years
- Claustrophobia
- Use of nicotine products within the previous month (prior to first PET scan)
Plan de estudios
Esta sección proporciona detalles del plan de estudio, incluido cómo está diseñado el estudio y qué mide el estudio.
¿Cómo está diseñado el estudio?
Detalles de diseño
- Propósito principal: Otro
- Asignación: Aleatorizado
- Modelo Intervencionista: Asignación paralela
- Enmascaramiento: Único
Armas e Intervenciones
Grupo de participantes/brazo |
Intervención / Tratamiento |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: Cariprazine 1mg
Cariprazine 1mg daily for 15 days
|
Cariprazine is an antipsychotic medication
This is the radiotracer that will be used to examine antipsychotic binding to D2 and D3 receptors in this study.
It is experimental and used for imaging purposes.
|
|
Experimental: Cariprazine 2mg
Cariprazine 2mg daily for 15 days
|
Cariprazine is an antipsychotic medication
This is the radiotracer that will be used to examine antipsychotic binding to D2 and D3 receptors in this study.
It is experimental and used for imaging purposes.
|
|
Experimental: Cariprazine 3mg
Cariprazine 3mg daily for 15 days
|
Cariprazine is an antipsychotic medication
This is the radiotracer that will be used to examine antipsychotic binding to D2 and D3 receptors in this study.
It is experimental and used for imaging purposes.
|
|
Experimental: Cariprazine 4mg
Cariprazine 4mg daily for 15 days
|
Cariprazine is an antipsychotic medication
This is the radiotracer that will be used to examine antipsychotic binding to D2 and D3 receptors in this study.
It is experimental and used for imaging purposes.
|
|
Experimental: Brexpiprazole 1mg
Brexpiprazole 1mg daily for 15 days
|
This is the radiotracer that will be used to examine antipsychotic binding to D2 and D3 receptors in this study.
It is experimental and used for imaging purposes.
Brexpiprazole is an antipsychotic medication
|
|
Experimental: Brexpiprazole 2mg
Brexpiprazole 2mg daily for 15 days
|
This is the radiotracer that will be used to examine antipsychotic binding to D2 and D3 receptors in this study.
It is experimental and used for imaging purposes.
Brexpiprazole is an antipsychotic medication
|
|
Experimental: Brexpiprazole 3mg
Brexpiprazole 3mg daily for 15 days
|
This is the radiotracer that will be used to examine antipsychotic binding to D2 and D3 receptors in this study.
It is experimental and used for imaging purposes.
Brexpiprazole is an antipsychotic medication
|
|
Experimental: Brexpiprazole 4mg
Brexpiprazole 4mg daily for 15 days
|
This is the radiotracer that will be used to examine antipsychotic binding to D2 and D3 receptors in this study.
It is experimental and used for imaging purposes.
Brexpiprazole is an antipsychotic medication
|
¿Qué mide el estudio?
Medidas de resultado primarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Acute D2 and D3 Receptor Occupancy
Periodo de tiempo: Day 1
|
Delta BPND in poscommissural putamen and midbrain
|
Day 1
|
|
Upregulation of D3 receptor following subchronic administration of antipsychotics
Periodo de tiempo: Day 15
|
The availability of D3Rs following two weeks of antipsychotic treatment will be measured.
|
Day 15
|
Medidas de resultado secundarias
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Positive Symptoms
Periodo de tiempo: 15 days
|
Correlations between changes in PANSS total positive symptoms and receptor binding will be examined.
|
15 days
|
|
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Negative Symptoms
Periodo de tiempo: 15 days
|
Correlations between changes in PANSS total negative symptom scores and receptor binding will be examined.
|
15 days
|
|
MATRICS Cognitive Deficits (Composite Score)
Periodo de tiempo: 15 days
|
Correlations between changes in cognitive deficits (MATRICS composite score) and receptor binding will be examined.
|
15 days
|
Otras medidas de resultado
Medida de resultado |
Medida Descripción |
Periodo de tiempo |
|---|---|---|
|
Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) Score
Periodo de tiempo: 15 days
|
Correlations between changes in extrapyramidal side effect scores (AIMS) and receptor binding will be examined.
|
15 days
|
|
Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS) Score
Periodo de tiempo: 15 days
|
Correlations between changes in extrapyramidal side effect scores (SAS) and receptor binding will be examined.
|
15 days
|
|
Barnes Akathisia Rating Scale (BARS) Score
Periodo de tiempo: 15 days
|
Correlations between changes in extrapyramidal side effect scores (BARS) and receptor binding will be examined.
|
15 days
|
Colaboradores e Investigadores
Aquí es donde encontrará personas y organizaciones involucradas en este estudio.
Patrocinador
Fechas de registro del estudio
Estas fechas rastrean el progreso del registro del estudio y los envíos de resultados resumidos a ClinicalTrials.gov. Los registros del estudio y los resultados informados son revisados por la Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina (NLM) para asegurarse de que cumplan con los estándares de control de calidad específicos antes de publicarlos en el sitio web público.
Fechas importantes del estudio
Inicio del estudio (Estimado)
1 de diciembre de 2026
Finalización primaria (Estimado)
30 de agosto de 2030
Finalización del estudio (Estimado)
30 de noviembre de 2030
Fechas de registro del estudio
Enviado por primera vez
11 de julio de 2026
Primero enviado que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
15 de julio de 2026
Publicado por primera vez (Actual)
20 de julio de 2026
Actualizaciones de registros de estudio
Última actualización publicada (Actual)
20 de julio de 2026
Última actualización enviada que cumplió con los criterios de control de calidad
15 de julio de 2026
Última verificación
1 de julio de 2026
Más información
Términos relacionados con este estudio
Palabras clave
Términos MeSH relevantes adicionales
Otros números de identificación del estudio
- NYSPI2026-31
- 1R01MH139651-01A1 (Subvención/contrato del NIH de EE. UU.)
Plan de datos de participantes individuales (IPD)
¿Planea compartir datos de participantes individuales (IPD)?
SÍ
Descripción del plan IPD
Data will be shared via the NIH data archive.
Marco de tiempo para compartir IPD
Data will be shared after the study has been completed, as per NIH guidelines.
Información sobre medicamentos y dispositivos, documentos del estudio
Estudia un producto farmacéutico regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.
Sí
Estudia un producto de dispositivo regulado por la FDA de EE. UU.
No
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