Assessing the safety of BMS-984923 in people with Parkinson's disease

A Double-Blind, Single Center, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study of BMS-984923 in Participants With Parkinson's Disease

This study is testing a new oral medication called BMS-984923 to see if it is safe for people with early Parkinson's disease when taken twice a day for 28 days.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 18 (estimated)
• Ages: 50 Years to 80 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Allyx Therapeutics (Industry-sponsored)
• Locations: 1 site (Durham, North Carolina)
• Trial ID: NCT06309147 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This Phase 1, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluates the safety and tolerability of BMS-984923, administered orally twice daily for 28 days, in participants with early Parkinson's disease. The study compares two dose levels of the drug against a placebo to determine its effects on dopamine transporter levels in the brain, which may indicate therapeutic response. Participants must have a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and be on stable therapy for at least 28 days prior to the study.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are men and women aged 50 to 80 with early-stage Parkinson's disease who are stable on their current therapy.

Not a fit: Patients with advanced Parkinson's disease or those not meeting the inclusion criteria may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to a new treatment option that improves symptoms and quality of life for patients with early Parkinson's disease.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies targeting synapse restoration in Parkinson's disease have shown promise, but this specific approach with BMS-984923 is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men or women between the ages of 50 and 80 years, inclusive at the time of screening.
2. Clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease as defined by the United Kingdom Parkinson's disease (PD) Society Brain Bank Clinical Diagnostic Criteria and Movement Disorder Society Parkinson's disease Criteria (must meet both criteria); must include bradykinesia and responsiveness to levodopa.
3. Maintenance on stable Parkinson's disease therapy for at least 28 days prior to Screening/Visit 1 through treatment period to Day 42, with demonstratable medication efficacy as assessed by the Investigator.
4. Severity of Parkinson's disease symptoms assessed by Hoehn and Yahr Staging score ≤3.0 (assessed in the "ON" state).
5. Maintenance on permitted stable non-Parkinson's disease therapy for at least 28 days prior to Day 1 through the treatment period to Day 42.
6. Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test at Screening and baseline, as well as be non-lactating and must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception during the study and for 30 days following last dose of study drug.
7. Male participants must be sterile or sexually inactive or agree not to father a child during the study and for 1 month after the last dose of study medication and must agree to use a barrier method for contraception. Female partners of male subjects must adopt a highly effective method of contraception
8. Adequate visual, hearing, cognitive and physical ability and willingness to comply with study drug administration, scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests, and other study-related procedures to complete the study
9. Institutional Review Board/Ethics Committee-approved consent form signed and dated by the participant

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of secondary or atypical parkinsonism
2. Severe or disabling fluctuations or dyskinesias that would, in the opinion of the Investigator, interfere with completion of the study
3. Previous surgical procedure for Parkinson's disease (e.g. Duopa, deep brain stimulation)
4. Clinically significant cognitive impairment with a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score \<18
5. Has a history or current evidence of long QT syndrome
6. Has bradycardia or tachycardia on the electrocardiogram (ECG) at Screening
7. Clinical or laboratory findings consistent with another primary neurodegenerative disease or cognitive disorder other than Parkinson's disease, including but not limited to, frontotemporal lobar disease, Huntington's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, multisystem atrophy, Jacob-Creutzfeld Disease, Down's syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, seizure disorder, or other infectious, metabolic or systemic disease affecting the central nervous system including but not limited to, syphilis, present hypothyroidism, present vitamin B12 deficiency, or other laboratory abnormalities
8. Suicidality, defined as active suicidal thoughts or ideation or history of suicide attempt in previous 2 years, or, in the Investigator's opinion, at serious risk of suicide
9. Currently active major depression as determined by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)-II score of \>19
10. Has a history or current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression according to the criteria of the most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
11. Clinically significant or unstable medical condition, including uncontrolled hypertension, or significant cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic, endocrine, or other systemic disease that in the Investigator's opinion may either put the participant at risk because of participation in the study, or influence the results, or impair the participant's ability to participate in the study
12. Any disorder that could interfere with absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of drugs (e.g., small bowel disease, Crohn's disease, celiac disease or liver disease)
13. Hospitalization or change of chronic concomitant medication within 8 weeks prior to baseline
14. Body mass index (BMI) \>38 kg/m2 or body weight \<50 kg
15. Has uncontrolled type 1 or type 2 diabetes. A subject with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels up to 7.5% can be enrolled if the Investigator believes the participant's diabetes is under control.
16. Has moderate or severe renal disease.
17. Has cancer or has had a malignant tumor (cerebral or systemic) within the past 3 years. (Participants with stable untreated prostate cancer or treated cutaneous squamous or basal cell carcinomas are not excluded)
18. Presence or history of psychosis, including if induced by anti-parkinsonian medications at doses required to improve motor symptoms, or hallucinations not induced by medications
19. Participant is currently pregnant, breast-feeding and/or lactating.
20. History of alcohol or substance abuse or dependence within the past 2 years.
21. Suspected or known allergy to any components of the study medication; Hypromellose Sodium lauryl sulfate, Lactose monohydrate, Croscarmellose sodium, Magnesium stearate.
22. Clinically significant abnormalities in B12 or thyroid function tests (TFTs) that might interfere with the study
23. Use of anticoagulants within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is greater) prior to study drug administration and for the duration of the study
24. Use of another investigational agent within 90 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is greater) prior to Screening and for the duration of the study
25. Neutropenia defined as absolute neutrophil count of \<1,500/microliter
26. Thrombocytopenia defined as platelet count \<100,000/microliter
27. Clinically significant abnormalities in screening laboratory tests, including aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, serum creatinine.
28. Male participants with female partners of child-bearing potential who are unwilling or unable to adhere to contraception requirements specified in the protocol.
29. Use of medications with potential drug-drug interactions within 2 weeks or 5 half-lives (whichever is greater) prior to study drug administration and for the duration of the study
30. Any contraindication to DaTscan, including claustrophobia, the presence of metal (ferromagnetic) implants, a cardiac pacemaker, or allergy to iodine
31. History of a seizure disorder, if stable on medication is acceptable
32. An immediate family member (i.e., spouse, parent, child, or sibling, whether biological or legally adopted) of the Investigator, Sponsor or contract research organizations conducting the trial
33. History of Covid-19 infection within 6 weeks prior to screening. Participants with unresolved symptoms of Covid-19 infection or ongoing cognitive or other deficits attributable to post-Covid-19, that may affect participant safety or interfere with cognitive assessments, based on the Investigator's clinical judgment.
34. Unable to comply with the protocol procedures or any significant issue raised by the Investigator that may compromise participant safety or potentially interfere with study interpretation.

Where this trial is running

Durham, North Carolina

• Duke Clinical Research Institute — Durham, North Carolina, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Laurie Sanders, Ph.D — Duke University
• Study coordinator: Alexis Schuettke

Conditions Parkinson Disease; Synapses; mGluR5 receptor; Silent allosteric modulator; Alzheimer's Disease