NRX101 Glx Biomarker Validation Study

Summary

Subnormal level of Glutamate+Glutamine (Glx) in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) of the brain has been associated with depression and PTSD. Similarly, interventions that increase the level of Glx in the brain, specifically electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and intravenous ketamine infusion have been associated with a rapid decrease in depression and suicidal ideation. This effect has been demonstrated in a dose-dependent manner in randomized clinical assessments. D-cycloserine, a glycine site modulator of NMDA receptor function has been demonstrated to increase Glx in the ACC of normal volunteers. The purpose of this study is to determine whether NRX-101, an experimental drug containing a fixed dose combination of D-cycloserine and lurasidone (1) raises Glx by a greater amount than either placebo or lurasidone alone in patients with bipolar depression, and (2) whether that elevation in Glx is correlated with a decrease in depression.

Timeline

Start

2018-11-01

Primary completion

2021-01-01

Completion

2021-06-01

Publications

• Results Dong Z, Grunebaum MF, Lan MJ, Wagner V, Choo TH, Milak MS, Sobeih T, Mann JJ, Kantrowitz JT. Relationship of Brain Glutamate Response to D-Cycloserine and Lurasidone to Antidepressant Response in Bipolar Depression: A Pilot Study. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Jun 2;12:653026. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.653026. eCollection 2021.
• Results Milak MS, Rashid R, Dong Z, Kegeles LS, Grunebaum MF, Ogden RT, Lin X, Mulhern ST, Suckow RF, Cooper TB, Keilp JG, Mao X, Shungu DC, Mann JJ. Assessment of Relationship of Ketamine Dose With Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Glx and GABA Responses in Adults With Major Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Aug 3;3(8):e2013211. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.13211.

Drugs

Indications