Fast-Fail Trials in Mood and Anxiety Spectrum Disorders; Kappa Opioid Receptor Phase 2a

A Phase 2a Study to Evaluate the Kappa Opioid Receptor As a Target for the Treatment of Mood and Anxiety Spectrum Disorders by Evaluation of Whether CERC-501 Engages Key Neural Circuitry Related to the Hedonic Response

The available treatment for patients with mood and anxiety disorders have significant limitations (Rush, 2007; Denys and de Geus, 2005). There is a need to develop new treatments for people with these disorders. Many research studies carried out in animals and a few preliminary studies carried out in humans suggest that medications which block kappa opioid receptors (KOR) have potential for being effective new treatments for patients with mood and anxiety spectrum disorders. These medications have shown particular promise for improving one important type of difficulty experienced by many patients who suffer from mood and anxiety spectrum disorders referred to as anhedonia, which is an impairment in reward-related function. In this study we will test the hypothesis that KOR antagonism is a promising means of improving anhedonia in patients with mood and anxiety spectrum disorders. We will do so by evaluating whether we can establish Proof of Concept (POC) that a relatively selective KOR antagonist, CERC-501 (formerly known as LY2456302), engages neural circuits involved in mediating reward-related function in patients with mood and anxiety spectrum disorders with anhedonia. We are attempting to establish POC in this study in order to determine whether there is a sufficient basis for pursuing future work evaluating whether KOR antagonism has therapeutic effects on clinical and behavioral measures of reward-related functioning.

FAST-MAS addresses an important problem and critical barrier to progress in Mood and Anxiety Spectrum Disorders and if the aims of the project are achieved, FAST-MAS could shift scientific knowledge, technical capacity, and clinical practice in a positive direction.

The Mood and Anxiety Spectrum disorders are both extremely common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality and, as such, represent an important public health problem in the United States.

The mood disorders include the following diagnostic entities: major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (including subtypes of mania, mixed state, and depressed, as well as types I and II), and dysthymic disorder. Available epidemiologic data suggest that the prevalence of these mood disorders is extremely high among adults in the United States, approaching 10%. Among the mood disorders, MDD has high lifetime prevalence, with recent estimates up to 16%. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), MDD is currently the leading cause of disability with the greatest burden of illness in developed countries and the third most common cause of disability worldwide. MDD is life shortening due to both suicide and its association with increased mortality from other medical conditions. It is also a highly recurrent condition with between 50% and 75% of persons diagnosed with MDD experiencing more than one episode. Bipolar Disorder is also a highly recurrent condition. The lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorder has been estimated to be approximately 3.4% in the World Health Survey Initiative. Approximately 60% of affected individuals experience severe or very severe role impairment based on the Sheehan Disability Scale and, like MDD, bipolar disorder is associated with significant suicide risk.

The anxiety disorders are also very common and associated with significant adverse impact on affected individuals and society. These disorders include the following diagnostic entities: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social phobia, specific phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As a group, these conditions affect approximately 18% of adults in a given year and they are associated with significant co-morbidities and adverse consequences. Of the anxiety disorders, GAD appears to be associated with the greatest per patient cost and disability with a degree of disability comparable to that of MDD and comparable to chronic medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and peptic ulcer disease. It affects approximately 6.8 million adults in the U.S. and is a highly chronic condition. Panic disorder affects about 6 million American adults and is twice as common in women as men. Panic disorder is also highly disabling and often chronic and even mild forms of this disorder are linked to significantly increased impairment in function and quality of life as well as a number of comorbidities. Approximately 2.2 million adults in the U.S. are affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder and this disorder is often accompanied by psychiatric comorbidities. Roughly half of individuals with this condition have a chronic unremitting course which is associated with significant disability and morbidity. Social phobia, also known as social anxiety disorder, is seen in roughly 15 million adults in the U.S. and is often associated with MDD or other anxiety disorders. It is generally a chronic condition that leads to a great degree of disability due to substantial impairment in social, educational, and occupational function. Approximately 8 million adults in the U.S. experience PTSD and approximately 12% of the population have PTSD at some point in their lives and affected individuals frequently experience associated MDD, other anxiety disorders and substance use problems. The level of disability associated with this condition tends to be quite high and includes impairment in social and occupational function and quality of life. There are also substantial financial and social costs associated with PTSD due to increased hospitalization rates, suicidality, and substance use problem.

Mood disorders and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent conditions, many of which are chronic, nearly all of which are associated with substantial comorbidities, disability and impairment and some are associated with an increased risk for mortality. Despite the availability of many pharmacologic, psychotherapeutic, brain stimulation, and combination treatment options available to clinicians, many patients with Mood and Anxiety Spectrum Disorders respond poorly to treatment. In light of the impairments, costs, and risks of these disorders, the limitations of the available treatments represents an enormous burden to public health and speak strongly to the need for new treatments for these conditions as well as novel methodologies of treatment development that are not only faster than existing methodologies but which also promote new ways of thinking about these disorders and their treatment and capitalize on recent and ongoing developments in basic science.

This study will be a six-site randomized, double-blind, PBO (placebo) -controlled, parallel-group mono-therapy study to assess the effects of CERC-501 (formerly known as LY2456302) compared to PBO in adults age 21-65 years with mood and anxiety spectrum disorders. We will recruit a total of 90 subjects, of which 45 will be randomized to CERC-501 and 45 to placebo for 8 weeks of treatment

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 21 and 65 years of age
• Must meet DSM-IV TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision) diagnostic criteria for: Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar I or II Depressed, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Panic Disorder, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) score ≥ 20
• Reliable and willing to be available for the duration of the study
• Willing and able to give written informed consent to participate
• Able to understand and comply with instructions
• If female of childbearing potential, must agree to use dual methods of contraception and be willing and able to continue contraception for 6 weeks after the last dose of study drug. Females using oral contraception must have started using it at least 2 months prior to the Baseline Visit
• If male of childbearing potential, must have undergone surgical sterilization (such as a vasectomy) or agree to use a condom used with a spermicide during participation in the study and for 1 month afterward

Exclusion Criteria:

• Expected to require hospitalization during the course of the study
• Current/history of a psychotic disorder, current manic or mixed episode, autism spectrum disorders, mental retardation
• Met DSMIV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, text revision) criteria for substance abuse within the last 3 months or substance dependence within the last 6 months, excluding caffeine and/or nicotine
• History of unstable or untreated serious medical condition based on physician evaluation, medical history, and screening laboratory testing
• Active suicidal intent or plan, or history of attempt within the past 3 months based on physician evaluation and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
• Use of any antidepressant, antipsychotic, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, mood stabilizing, muscle relaxant, centrally acting antihistaminergic, stimulant or insomnia medications (See Appendix 2) within 5 half-lives of baseline or at any time during after baseline
• Use of any medication that is primarily metabolized by Cytochrome P450 2C8 within 14 days of baseline or at any time during the study. This includes: Cerivastatin, Paclitaxel, Repaglinide, Sorafenib, Rosiglitazone, Trimethoprim, Amodiaquine, Morphine, Amiodarone, Cabazitaxel, Carbamazepine, Chloroquine, Ibuprofen, Trepostinil, Torsemide.
• Any contraindications to the magnetic resonance imaging procedures
• Positive urine drug screen at any time during the study
• Use of any investigational medication within 3 months prior to the start of this study or scheduled to receive an investigational drug other than the study drug during the course of this study
• Known hypersensitivity to CERC-501 (formerly known as LY2456302)
• History of severe allergies or multiple adverse drug reactions
• History of gastric disease (including peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, upper GI bleeding, or any GI precancerous condition), current clinically evident gastrointestinal complaints, or positive urea breath test
• Current use of a proton pump inhibitor or histamine 2 blocker, or a history of chronic NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) use.
• History of use of Salvia divinorum or use of Salvia divinorum at any time during the study.
• Any other condition that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude participation in the study
• Any smoking of cigarettes or use of other nicotine containing products within the last month or at any time during the study
• Pregnant or lactating