NCT01433055

Brief Summary

Schizophrenia is a devastating and costly illness. One-third to one-half of people with schizophrenia do not respond to the most current drugs leaving clozapine as the best alternative for treatment. However, over 60% of people treated with clozapine continue to have persistent symptoms and cognitive impairments. Little data is available to support evidence-based recommendations to guide clinicians in treating these patients. Preliminary data has suggested that adjunct treatment with minocycline may offer robust symptom improvement in patients with schizophrenia, including those taking clozapine. Minocycline has had interesting effects; including suggesting it may have a significant role in treatment of neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Minocycline is currently available generically; its side effects are well-described and minimal. The proposed double-blind treatment study seeks to demonstrate that adjunctive minocycline offers patients superior efficacy for persistent positive symptoms, cognitive impairments, and/or other components of schizophrenia pathology. This knowledge could lead to the more effective treatment of patients with schizophrenia. The research itself may lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of positive symptoms and cognitive impairments, which could contribute to improved treatments in the future.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
52

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable schizophrenia

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2011

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 1, 2011

Completed
20 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 21, 2011

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 13, 2011

Completed
2.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 1, 2014

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 1, 2014

Completed
3.4 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

June 9, 2017

Completed
Last Updated

August 28, 2019

Status Verified

August 1, 2019

Enrollment Period

2.5 years

First QC Date

July 21, 2011

Results QC Date

May 16, 2016

Last Update Submit

August 15, 2019

Conditions

Keywords

SchizophreniaCognitive SymptomsClozapine

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) Positive Symptom Domain Scores Between Minocycline and Placebo.

    Adjunct minocycline to clozapine will be compared to placebo to test its efficacy to improve positive psychotic symptoms. The 4 item positive sub factor of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) will be the primary outcome over the 10 week randomized study. Total maximum score is 28, and total minimum score is 4. The positive domain score consists of conceptual disorganization (item 4), suspiciousness (item 11) hallucinatory behavior (item 12), and unusual thought content (item 15). All data is reported as the difference between baseline and 10 weeks. The lower the score the better the outcome.

    10 Weeks

  • Effect of Minocycline on Cognitive Symptoms as Measured by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery.

    Adjunct minocycline will be compared to placebo to test its efficacy in improving cognitive function. Neuropsychological testing will be done at baseline and endpoint using the MATRICS battery. A composite score as well as individual scores will be will be the primary outcome over the 10 week randomized study. This assessment total minimum score of -10 and maximum score of 80. He higher the score the better the outcome.

    10 Weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • The Effect of Minocycline Compared to Placebo to Improve Negative Symptoms as Measured by the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS)

    10 Weeks

  • The Effect of Adjunct Minocycline to Placebo to Improve Depressive Symptoms as Measured by the Calgary Depression Scale

    10 Weeks

  • The Effect of Adjunct Minocycline to Placebo on Global Clinical Improvement of Symptoms.

    10 Weeks

Study Arms (2)

Minocycline

ACTIVE COMPARATOR
Drug: Minocycline

Sugar Pill

PLACEBO COMPARATOR
Drug: Placebo

Interventions

Minocycline Dosing: Minocycline (Dynacin® or generic) will be available in 50, 75 and 100 mg capsules. There will be matched placebo-minocycline capsules for each minocycline capsule strength. During the first week subjects will receive one 50 mg capsule twice per day (minocycline 100 mg total or matching placebo) and during weeks 2-10 subjects will receive 2- 50 mg capsules twice per day If a subject should complain of any side effect, then the blind psychiatrist will be allowed to omit the next dose of study medication and then continue the subject on the optimal treatment dose. If, despite this intervention, the subject is still unable to tolerate the 200 mg/day dose, then the dose may be lowered to 150 mg to alleviate side effects and minimize attrition.

Minocycline

Placebo Dosing: Minocycline (Dynacin® or generic) will be available in 50, 75 and 100 mg capsules. There will be matched placebo-minocycline capsules for each minocycline capsule strength. During the first week subjects will receive one 50 mg capsule twice per day(minocycline 100 mg total or matching placebo) and during weeks 2-10 subjects will receive 2- 50 mg capsules twice per day If a subject should complain of any side effect, then the blind psychiatrist will be allowed to omit the next dose of study medication and then continue the subject on the optimal treatment dose. If, despite this intervention, the subject is still unable to tolerate the 200 mg/day dose, then the dose may be lowered to 150 mg to alleviate side effects and minimize attrition.

Sugar Pill

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
  • Male or Female
  • Age: 18 to 65 years
  • Caucasian or Non-Caucasian
  • At least six months of clozapine treatment
  • Clozapine treatment for incomplete symptoms response (evidence of two failed previous trials of antipsychotics)
  • Current dose of 200 mg/day for at least 3 months AND a documented clozapine blood level 350 ng/ml prior to study start (maximum clozapine dose of 900 mg/day)
  • BPRS total score of 45 or more on the 18 item version (scale: 1-7)
  • BPRS positive symptom item total score of 8 or more
  • BPRS positive symptom score of 4 or greater on at least one item

You may not qualify if:

  • History of organic brain disease
  • DSM-IV diagnosis of Mental Retardation
  • DSM-IV diagnosis of Alcohol or Substance Dependence within the last six months (except nicotine)
  • DSM-IV diagnosis of Alcohol or Substance Abuse within the last one month (except nicotine)
  • Pregnancy or lactation
  • Significant renal or liver impairment
  • Previous known hypersensitivity to tetracyclines
  • Current treatment with tetracycline or derivative
  • Current treatment with lamotrigine
  • Treatment with oral contraceptives
  • Current known infection
  • Treatment with cholestyramine or colestipol
  • Treatment with Urinary alkalinizers (e.g., sodium lactate, potassium citrate)
  • Treatment with warfarin
  • Abnormal (considered positive) Lyme titer

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Maryland Psychiatric Research Center

Catonsville, Maryland, 21228, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Kelly DL, Sullivan KM, McEvoy JP, McMahon RP, Wehring HJ, Gold JM, Liu F, Warfel D, Vyas G, Richardson CM, Fischer BA, Keller WR, Koola MM, Feldman SM, Russ JC, Keefe RS, Osing J, Hubzin L, August S, Walker TM, Buchanan RW. Adjunctive Minocycline in Clozapine-Treated Schizophrenia Patients With Persistent Symptoms. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015 Aug;35(4):374-81. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000000345.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

SchizophreniaNeurobehavioral Manifestations

Interventions

Minocycline

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic DisordersMental DisordersNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

TetracyclinesNaphthacenesPolycyclic Aromatic HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons, AromaticHydrocarbons, CyclicHydrocarbonsOrganic ChemicalsPolycyclic Compounds

Results Point of Contact

Title
Deanna L. Kelly, Pharm.D., BCPP
Organization
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center

Study Officials

  • Deanna Kelly, Pharm.D., BCPP

    University of Maryland, College Park

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Deanna L. Kelly, Pharm.D., BCPP

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 21, 2011

First Posted

September 13, 2011

Study Start

July 1, 2011

Primary Completion

January 1, 2014

Study Completion

January 1, 2014

Last Updated

August 28, 2019

Results First Posted

June 9, 2017

Record last verified: 2019-08

Locations