BXCL501 for Pediatric Schizophrenia and Bipolar Agitation

Recruiting at 5 trial locations

Overseen By Carl Gommoll

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Recruiting

Sponsor: BioXcel Therapeutics Inc

Must not be taking: Benzodiazepines, Hypnotics, Antipsychotics

Disqualifiers: Acute intoxication, Suicide risk, others

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is a study of the efficacy and safety of BXCL501 in children and adolescents with acute agitation and either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you do not use benzodiazepines or other hypnotics, or certain antipsychotic drugs in the 4 hours before the study treatment. Other medications are not specifically mentioned, so it's best to discuss with the trial team.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug BXCL501 for treating agitation in pediatric patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?

Research shows that sublingual dexmedetomidine, a component of BXCL501, is effective in reducing agitation in adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In clinical trials, it significantly improved agitation symptoms without serious side effects, suggesting it could be a promising option for similar conditions in pediatric patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is BXCL501 (Dexmedetomidine) safe for treating agitation in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?

In studies, sublingual dexmedetomidine (BXCL501) was found to be safe for treating agitation in adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with the most common side effect being mild sleepiness. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

How is the drug BXCL501 different from other treatments for pediatric schizophrenia and bipolar agitation?

BXCL501 is unique because it is a sublingual (under the tongue) film formulation of dexmedetomidine, which is typically used as a sedative in intensive care settings. This method of administration allows for rapid absorption and onset of action, which can be particularly beneficial in managing acute agitation in pediatric patients. ^{7 8 9 10 11}

Research Team

Robert Risinger, MD

Principal Investigator

BioXcel Therapeutics

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for children and teens aged 10-17 with bipolar disorder, and those aged 13-17 with schizophrenia who are experiencing significant agitation. They must have a specific level of agitation on the PANSS Excited Component scale and agree to use effective birth control. It's not for those who've used certain sedatives recently, are at suicide risk, have serious health issues, or have taken experimental drugs within the last month.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients who are judged to be clinically agitated at Screening and Baseline with a total score of ≥14 on the 5 items comprising the PANSS Excited Component (PEC)

I am between 10-17 years old and have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

I am a teenager aged 13-17 with schizophrenia.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients with serious or unstable medical illnesses

Patients with agitation caused by acute intoxication, including alcohol or drugs of abuse (with the exception of THC) during urine screening

I haven't taken any sleep or antipsychotic medication in the last 4 hours.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive sublingual film containing Dexmedetomidine or placebo

1-2 weeks

Daily visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• BXCL501 (Alpha-2A Adrenergic Receptor Agonist)

Trial Overview The study tests BXCL501 at different doses (60, 80, and 120 micrograms) against a placebo to see if it helps calm down kids and teens with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia during acute agitation episodes. The effectiveness and safety of these treatments are being compared.

Participant Groups

Group I: 80 Micrograms Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Sublingual film containing 80 micrograms Dexmedetomidine

Group II: 60 Micrograms Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Sublingual film containing 60 micrograms Dexmedetomidine Europe Only

Group III: 120 Micrograms Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Sublingual film containing 120 micrograms Dexmedetomidine

Group IV: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Sublingual Placebo film

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

BioXcel Therapeutics Inc

Lead Sponsor

Trials

20

Recruited

2,400+

Cognitive Research Corporation

Industry Sponsor

Trials

25

Recruited

2,400+

Findings from Research

Sublingual dexmedetomidine has a favorable efficacy profile for treating agitation in adults with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, with a number needed to treat of 3 for significant response at 2 hours post-dose in both conditions.

The treatment's safety profile is also acceptable, as the number needed to harm for adverse events is generally greater than 10, except for somnolence, which has a number needed to harm of 7, indicating that the benefits outweigh the risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sublingual Dexmedetomidine for Agitation Associated with Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder: A Post Hoc Analysis of Number Needed to Treat, Number Needed to Harm, and Likelihood to be Helped or Harmed. Citrome, L., Risinger, R., Rajachandran, L., et al.[2023]

Dexmedetomidine sublingual film has been shown to be effective in reducing acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with significant improvements observed as early as 20 minutes after administration in pivotal trials involving these conditions.

The most common side effect was somnolence, while cardiovascular effects were generally mild and temporary, making dexmedetomidine a promising non-invasive alternative to traditional antipsychotics and benzodiazepines for managing agitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dexmedetomidine Sublingual Film: A New Treatment to Reduce Agitation in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorders. Karlin, DM., Nelson, LA., Campbell, AR.[2023]

Sublingual dexmedetomidine (Igalmi) is a safe and effective treatment for acute agitation in adults with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, as demonstrated in two phase 3 trials involving different dose strengths (180 μg and 120 μg).

Both doses significantly improved agitation scores compared to placebo within two hours, with mild somnolence being the most common side effect, indicating a favorable safety profile without serious adverse events.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sublingual Dexmedetomidine for the Treatment of Agitation in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Smith, CM., Santalucia, M., Bunn, H., et al.[2023]

Sublingual dexmedetomidine is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for agitation in adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, with effects starting as quickly as 20 minutes after administration.

While it shows promise, potential side effects include somnolence and hypotension, and further research is needed to assess its use in patients taking other psychiatric medications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sublingual dexmedetomidine: repurposing an anesthetic as an anti-agitation agent. Faden, J., Musselman, M., Citrome, L.[2023]

In a phase 3 study involving 380 adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, sublingual dexmedetomidine (180 μg and 120 μg) significantly reduced symptoms of acute agitation compared to placebo, as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale-Excited Component (PEC) scores at 2 hours postdose.

The most common side effects of dexmedetomidine included somnolence, dizziness, and hypotension, indicating that while it is effective, monitoring for these adverse events is important during treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sublingual Dexmedetomidine for the Treatment of Acute Agitation in Adults With Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Citrome, L., Preskorn, SH., Lauriello, J., et al.[2022]

Dexmedetomidine film (BXCL501) and intranasal olanzapine (INP105) are two investigational medications showing promise for the rapid management of acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, based on a review of clinical trials.

While olanzapine is already established in psychiatric treatment, dexmedetomidine represents a novel approach, and both medications offer unique noninvasive administration methods that could enhance patient compliance and treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The treatment of acute agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: investigational drugs in early stages of their clinical development, and their clinical context and potential place in therapy. Ward, K., Citrome, L.[2020]

Current antipsychotic medications are not very effective in treating the negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, which significantly impact patients' quality of life.

Recent studies suggest that indirectly targeting the glycine modulatory site (GMS) of NMDA receptors, particularly through GlyT1 and DAO inhibitors, may provide a promising and safer approach to improve cognitive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Directly and Indirectly Targeting the Glycine Modulatory Site to Modulate NMDA Receptor Function to Address Unmet Medical Needs of Patients With Schizophrenia. Pei, JC., Luo, DZ., Gau, SS., et al.[2021]

Clinical trials indicate that agents targeting the glycine modulatory site on NMDA receptors, such as glycine and D-cycloserine, can improve cognitive function and reduce negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients already on typical antipsychotics.

Preliminary findings suggest that clozapine may enhance the effects of these glycine modulators, and an allosteric modulator of the AMPA receptor shows promise in improving cognitive functions in treated subjects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ionotropic glutamate receptors as therapeutic targets in schizophrenia. Coyle, JT., Tsai, G., Goff, DC.[2022]

Subanaesthetic doses of dissociative anaesthetics can mimic cognitive impairments and negative symptoms of schizophrenia in healthy individuals, suggesting a link between NMDA receptor activity and the disorder.

Clinical trials show that activating the glycine modulatory site on the NMDA receptor can reduce negative symptoms and improve cognition in chronic schizophrenia patients, indicating it as a promising therapeutic target.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The NMDA receptor glycine modulatory site: a therapeutic target for improving cognition and reducing negative symptoms in schizophrenia. Coyle, JT., Tsai, G.[2018]

Aripiprazole is an effective treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder, showing superior efficacy compared to placebo and haloperidol, and similar efficacy to other second-generation antipsychotics like perphenazine and risperidone, but is less effective than olanzapine.

It has a favorable tolerability profile, with a low risk of weight gain and metabolic issues, although some patients may experience akathisia and gastrointestinal symptoms at the start of treatment, which are often temporary.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A review of aripiprazole in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder. Citrome, L.[2021]

Clozapine treatment in 20 adolescents with treatment-refractory schizophrenia led to a significant reduction in aggressive behaviors, as evidenced by fewer emergency medication administrations and seclusion events during weeks 12 to 24 of treatment.

The study suggests that clozapine can effectively improve aggressive behaviors in adolescents, allowing for potential discharge to less restrictive settings, although further controlled trials are necessary to confirm these findings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clozapine: its impact on aggressive behavior among children and adolescents with schizophrenia. Kranzler, H., Roofeh, D., Gerbino-Rosen, G., et al.[2013]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sublingual Dexmedetomidine for Agitation Associated with Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder: A Post Hoc Analysis of Number Needed to Treat, Number Needed to Harm, and Likelihood to be Helped or Harmed. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dexmedetomidine Sublingual Film: A New Treatment to Reduce Agitation in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorders. [2023]

3. Korea (South) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sublingual Dexmedetomidine for the Treatment of Agitation in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. [2023]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sublingual dexmedetomidine: repurposing an anesthetic as an anti-agitation agent. [2023]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sublingual Dexmedetomidine for the Treatment of Acute Agitation in Adults With Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. [2022]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The treatment of acute agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder: investigational drugs in early stages of their clinical development, and their clinical context and potential place in therapy. [2020]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Directly and Indirectly Targeting the Glycine Modulatory Site to Modulate NMDA Receptor Function to Address Unmet Medical Needs of Patients With Schizophrenia. [2021]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ionotropic glutamate receptors as therapeutic targets in schizophrenia. [2022]

9. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The NMDA receptor glycine modulatory site: a therapeutic target for improving cognition and reducing negative symptoms in schizophrenia. [2018]

10. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A review of aripiprazole in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder. [2021]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clozapine: its impact on aggressive behavior among children and adolescents with schizophrenia. [2013]