1
|
Vasiliu O, Budeanu B, Cătănescu MȘ. The New Horizon of Antipsychotics beyond the Classic Dopaminergic Hypothesis-The Case of the Xanomeline-Trospium Combination: A Systematic Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:610. [PMID: 38794180 PMCID: PMC11124398 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia explains the effects of all the available antipsychotics in clinical use, there is an increasing need for developing new drugs for the treatment of the positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of chronic psychoses. Xanomeline-trospium (KarXT) is a drug combination that is based on the essential role played by acetylcholine in the regulation of cognitive processes and the interactions between this neurotransmitter and other signaling pathways in the central nervous system, with a potential role in the onset of schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and substance use disorders. A systematic literature review that included four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Clarivate/Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and the US National Library of Medicine database for clinical trials detected twenty-one sources referring to fourteen studies focused on KarXT, out of which only four have available results. Based on the results of these trials, the short-term efficacy and tolerability of xanomeline-trospium are good, but more data are needed before this drug combination may be recommended for clinical use. However, on a theoretical level, the exploration of KarXT is useful for increasing the interest of researchers in finding new, non-dopaminergic, antipsychotics that could be used either as monotherapy or as add-on drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Octavian Vasiliu
- Department of Psychiatry, “Dr. Carol Davila” University Emergency Central Military Hospital, 010816 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Beatrice Budeanu
- Faculty of Medicine, « Carol Davila » University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (B.B.); (M.-Ș.C.)
| | - Mihai-Ștefan Cătănescu
- Faculty of Medicine, « Carol Davila » University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; (B.B.); (M.-Ș.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Palma JA. Muscarinic control of cardiovascular function in humans: a review of current clinical evidence. Clin Auton Res 2024; 34:31-44. [PMID: 38305989 PMCID: PMC10994193 DOI: 10.1007/s10286-024-01016-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To review the available evidence on the impact of muscarinic receptor modulation on cardiovascular control in humans. METHODS In this narrative Review we summarize data on cardiovascular endpoints from clinical trials of novel subtype-selective or quasi-selective muscarinic modulators, mostly PAMs, performed in the last decade. We also review the cardiovascular phenotype in recently described human genetic and autoimmune disorders affecting muscarinic receptors. RESULTS Recent advancements in the development of compounds that selectively target muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are expanding our knowledge about the physiological function of each muscarinic receptor subtype (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5). Among these novel compounds, positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) have emerged as the preferred therapeutic to regulate muscarinic receptor subtype function. Many muscarinic allosteric and orthosteric modulators (including but not limited to xanomeline-trospium and emraclidine) are now in clinical development and approaching regulatory approval for multiple indications, including the treatment of cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia as well as Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The results of these clinical trials provide an opportunity to understand the influence of muscarinic modulation on cardiovascular autonomic control in humans. While the results and the impact of each of these therapies on heart rate and blood pressure control have been variable, in part because the clinical trials were not specifically designed to measure cardiovascular endpoints, the emerging data is valuable to elucidate the relative cardiovascular contributions of each muscarinic receptor subtype. CONCLUSION Understanding the muscarinic control of cardiovascular function is of paramount importance and may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for treating cardiovascular disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose-Alberto Palma
- Department of Neurology, NYU Dysautonomia Center, New York University School of Medicine, 530 First Av, Suite 9Q, New York, 10016, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dean B. Muscarinic M1 and M4 receptor agonists for schizophrenia: promising candidates for the therapeutic arsenal. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2023; 32:1113-1121. [PMID: 37994870 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2023.2288074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Successful phase 3 trials of KarXT in people with schizophrenia herald a new era of treating the disorder with drugs that do not target the dopamine D2 receptor. The active component of KarXT is xanomeline, a muscarinic (CHRM) M1 and M4 agonist, making muscarinic receptors a viable target for treating schizophrenia. AREAS COVERED This review covers the process of taking drugs that activate the muscarinic M1 and M4 receptors from conceptualization to the clinic and details the mechanisms by which activating the CHRM1 and 4 can affect the broad spectrum of symptoms experienced by people with schizophrenia. EXPERT OPINION Schizophrenia is a syndrome which means drugs that activate muscarinic M1 and M4 receptors, as was the case for antipsychotic drugs acting on the dopamine D2 receptor, will not give optimal outcomes in everyone within the syndrome. Thus, it would be ideal to identify people who are responsive to drugs activating the CHRM1 and 4. Given knowledge of the actions of these receptors, it is possible treatment non-response could be restricted to sub-groups within the syndrome who have deficits in cortical CHRM1 or those with one of the cognitive endophenotypes that may be identifiable by changes in the blood transcriptome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Dean
- The Synaptic Biology and Cognition Laboratory, The Florey, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Breier A, Brannan SK, Paul SM, Miller AC. Evidence of trospium's ability to mitigate cholinergic adverse events related to xanomeline: phase 1 study results. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2023; 240:1191-1198. [PMID: 37036495 PMCID: PMC10102054 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-023-06362-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The M1/M4 preferring muscarinic receptor agonist xanomeline demonstrated antipsychotic and procognitive effects in patients with Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia in prior studies, but further clinical development was limited by cholinergic adverse events (AEs). KarXT combines xanomeline with the peripherally restricted muscarinic receptor antagonist trospium with the goal of improving tolerability and is in clinical development for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. OBJECTIVE Test the hypothesis that trospium can mitigate cholinergic AEs associated with xanomeline. METHODS Healthy volunteers enrolled in this phase 1 (NCT02831231), single-site, 9-day, double-blind comparison of xanomeline alone (n = 33) versus KarXT (n = 35). Rates of five prespecified cholinergic AEs (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, salivary hypersecretion) were compared between treatment arms. Vital signs, electrocardiograms (ECGs), safety laboratory values, and pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses were assessed. A self-administered visual analog scale (VAS) and clinician-administered scales were employed. RESULTS Compared with xanomeline alone, KarXT reduced composite incidences of the five a priori selected cholinergic AEs by 46% and each individual AE by ≥ 29%. There were no episodes of syncope in KarXT-treated subjects; two cases occurred in the xanomeline-alone arm. The rate of postural dizziness was 11.4% in the KarXT arm versus 27.2% with xanomeline alone. ECG, vital signs, and laboratory values were not meaningfully different between treatment arms. The VAS and clinician-administered scales tended to favor KarXT. PK analysis revealed that trospium did not affect xanomeline's PK profile. CONCLUSIONS Trospium was effective in mitigating xanomeline-related cholinergic AEs. KarXT had an improved safety profile compared with xanomeline alone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Breier
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Karuna Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sauder C, Allen LA, Baker E, Miller AC, Paul SM, Brannan SK. Effectiveness of KarXT (xanomeline-trospium) for cognitive impairment in schizophrenia: post hoc analyses from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 study. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:491. [PMID: 36414626 PMCID: PMC9681874 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02254-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The muscarinic receptor agonist xanomeline improved cognition in phase 2 trials in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. We present data on the effect of KarXT (xanomeline-trospium) on cognition in schizophrenia from the 5-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled EMERGENT-1 trial (NCT03697252). Analyses included 125 patients with computerised Cogstate Brief Battery (CBB) subtest scores at baseline and endpoint. A post hoc subgroup analysis evaluated the effects of KarXT on cognitive performance in patients with or without clinically meaningful cognitive impairment at baseline, and a separate outlier analysis excluded patients with excessive intraindividual variability (IIV) across cognitive subdomains. ANCOVA models assessed treatment effects for completers and impairment subgroups, with or without removal of outliers. Sample-wide, cognitive improvement was numerically but not statistically greater with KarXT (n = 60) than placebo (n = 65), p = 0.16. However, post hoc analyses showed 65 patients did not exhibit clinically meaningful cognitive impairment at baseline, while eight patients had implausibly high IIV at one or both timepoints. Significant treatment effects were observed after removing outliers (KarXT n = 54, placebo n = 63; p = 0.04). Despite the small sample size, a robust (d = 0.50) and significant effect was observed among patients with cognitive impairment (KarXT n = 23, placebo n = 37; p = 0.03). These effects did not appear to be related to improvement in PANSS total scores (linear regression, R2 = 0.03). Collectively, these findings suggest that KarXT may have a separable and meaningful impact on cognition, particularly among patients with cognitive impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Luke A. Allen
- grid.450548.80000 0004 0447 0405Cambridge Cognition, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth Baker
- grid.450548.80000 0004 0447 0405Cambridge Cognition, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang J, Wu M, Chen Z, Wu L, Wang T, Cao D, Wang H, Liu S, Xu Y, Li F, Liu J, Chen N, Zhao S, Cheng J, Wang S, Hua T. The unconventional activation of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M4R by diverse ligands. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2855. [PMID: 35606397 PMCID: PMC9126879 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30595-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) respond to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and play important roles in human nervous system. Muscarinic receptor 4 (M4R) is a promising drug target for treating neurological and mental disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. However, the lack of understanding on M4R's activation by subtype selective agonists hinders its therapeutic applications. Here, we report the structural characterization of M4R selective allosteric agonist, compound-110, as well as agonist iperoxo and positive allosteric modulator LY2119620. Our cryo-electron microscopy structures of compound-110, iperoxo or iperoxo-LY2119620 bound M4R-Gi complex reveal their different interaction modes and activation mechanisms of M4R, and the M4R-ip-LY-Gi structure validates the cooperativity between iperoxo and LY2119620 on M4R. Through the comparative structural and pharmacological analysis, compound-110 mostly occupies the allosteric binding pocket with vertical binding pose. Such a binding and activation mode facilitates its allostersic selectivity and agonist profile. In addition, in our schizophrenia-mimic mouse model study, compound-110 shows antipsychotic activity with low extrapyramidal side effects. Thus, this study provides structural insights to develop next-generation antipsychotic drugs selectively targeting on mAChRs subtypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Wang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Meng Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhangcheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijie Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian Wang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongmei Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan Wang
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenhui Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Yueming Xu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Li
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Junlin Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Chen
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianjun Cheng
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
| | - Sheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 200031, Shanghai, China.
| | - Tian Hua
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 201210, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
McDonald JK, van der Westhuizen ET, Pham V, Thompson G, Felder CC, Paul SM, Thal DM, Christopoulos A, Valant C. Biased Profile of Xanomeline at the Recombinant Human M 4 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1206-1218. [PMID: 35380782 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Many Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs are structural analogues of the endogenous (natural) ligands of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, it is becoming appreciated that chemically distinct ligands can bind to GPCRs in conformations that lead to different cellular signaling events, a phenomenon termed biased agonism. Despite this, the rigorous experimentation and analysis required to identify biased agonism are often not undertaken in most clinical candidates and go unrealized. Recently, xanomeline, a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonist, has entered phase III clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia. If successful, xanomeline will be the first novel FDA-approved antipsychotic drug in almost 50 years. Intriguingly, xanomeline's potential for biased agonism at the mAChRs and, in particular, the M4 mAChR, the most promising receptor target for schizophrenia, has not been assessed. Here, we quantify the biased agonism profile of xanomeline and three other mAChR agonists in Chinese hamster ovary cells recombinantly expressing the M4 mAChR. Agonist activity was examined across nine distinct signaling readouts, including the activation of five different G protein subtypes, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, β-arrestin recruitment, calcium mobilization, and cAMP regulation. Relative to acetylcholine (ACh), xanomeline was biased away from ERK1/2 phosphorylation and calcium mobilization compared to Gαi2 protein activation. These findings likely have important implications for our understanding of the therapeutic action of xanomeline and call for further investigation into the in vivo consequences of biased agonism in drugs targeting the M4 mAChR for the treatment of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jack K. McDonald
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Emma T. van der Westhuizen
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Vi Pham
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Geoff Thompson
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | | | - Steven M. Paul
- Karuna Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, United States
| | - David M. Thal
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Celine Valant
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Neuromedicines Discovery Centre, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Brannan SK, Sawchak S, Miller AC, Lieberman JA, Paul SM, Breier A. Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptor Agonist and Peripheral Antagonist for Schizophrenia. N Engl J Med 2021; 384:717-726. [PMID: 33626254 PMCID: PMC7610870 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2017015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The muscarinic receptor agonist xanomeline has antipsychotic properties and is devoid of dopamine receptor-blocking activity but causes cholinergic adverse events. Trospium is a peripherally restricted muscarinic receptor antagonist that reduces peripheral cholinergic effects of xanomeline. The efficacy and safety of combined xanomeline and trospium in patients with schizophrenia are unknown. METHODS In this double-blind, phase 2 trial, we randomly assigned patients with schizophrenia in a 1:1 ratio to receive twice-daily xanomeline-trospium (increased to a maximum of 125 mg of xanomeline and 30 mg of trospium per dose) or placebo for 5 weeks. The primary end point was the change from baseline to week 5 in the total score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS; range, 30 to 210, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms of schizophrenia). Secondary end points were the change in the PANSS positive symptom subscore, the score on the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale (range, 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating greater severity of illness), the change in the PANSS negative symptom subscore, the change in the PANSS Marder negative symptom subscore, and the percentage of patients with a response according to a CGI-S score of 1 or 2. RESULTS A total of 182 patients were enrolled, with 90 assigned to receive xanomeline-trospium and 92 to receive placebo. The PANSS total score at baseline was 97.7 in the xanomeline-trospium group and 96.6 in the placebo group. The change from baseline to week 5 was -17.4 points with xanomeline-trospium and -5.9 points with placebo (least-squares mean difference, -11.6 points; 95% confidence interval, -16.1 to -7.1; P<0.001). The results for the secondary end points were significantly better in the xanomeline-trospium group than in the placebo group, with the exception of the percentage of patients with a CGI-S response. The most common adverse events in the xanomeline-trospium group were constipation, nausea, dry mouth, dyspepsia, and vomiting. The incidences of somnolence, weight gain, restlessness, and extrapyramidal symptoms were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS In a 5-week trial, xanomeline-trospium resulted in a greater decrease in the PANSS total score than placebo but was associated with cholinergic and anticholinergic adverse events. Larger and longer trials are required to determine the efficacy and safety of xanomeline-trospium in patients with schizophrenia. (Funded by Karuna Therapeutics and the Wellcome Trust; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03697252.).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen K Brannan
- From Karuna Therapeutics, Boston (S.K.B., S.S., A.C.M., S.M.P.); Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (J.A.L.); and Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (A.B.)
| | - Sharon Sawchak
- From Karuna Therapeutics, Boston (S.K.B., S.S., A.C.M., S.M.P.); Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (J.A.L.); and Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (A.B.)
| | - Andrew C Miller
- From Karuna Therapeutics, Boston (S.K.B., S.S., A.C.M., S.M.P.); Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (J.A.L.); and Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (A.B.)
| | - Jeffrey A Lieberman
- From Karuna Therapeutics, Boston (S.K.B., S.S., A.C.M., S.M.P.); Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (J.A.L.); and Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (A.B.)
| | - Steven M Paul
- From Karuna Therapeutics, Boston (S.K.B., S.S., A.C.M., S.M.P.); Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (J.A.L.); and Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (A.B.)
| | - Alan Breier
- From Karuna Therapeutics, Boston (S.K.B., S.S., A.C.M., S.M.P.); Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (J.A.L.); and Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis (A.B.)
| |
Collapse
|