A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial to explore the effects of a GABAA-α5 NAM (basmisanil) on intellectual disability associated with Down syndrome

Abstract

Background There are currently no pharmacological therapies to address the intellectual disability associated with Down syndrome. Excitatory/inhibitory imbalance has been hypothesized to contribute to impairments in cognitive functioning in Down syndrome. Negative modulation of the GABAA-α5 receptor is proposed as a mechanism to attenuate GABAergic function and restore the excitatory/inhibitory balance. Methods Basmisanil, a selective GABAA-α5 negative allosteric modulator, was evaluated at 120 mg or 240 mg BID (80 or 160 mg for 12–13 years) in a 6-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial (Clematis) for efficacy and safety in adolescents and young adults with Down syndrome. The primary endpoint was based on a composite analysis of working memory (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Scale [RBANS]) and independent functioning and adaptive behavior (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales [VABS-II] or the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement [CGI-I]). Secondary measures included the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning-Preschool (BRIEF-P), Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF-4), and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds-QL). EEG was conducted for safety monitoring and quantitatively analyzed in adolescents. Results Basmisanil was safe and well-tolerated; the frequency and nature of adverse events were similar in basmisanil and placebo arms. EEG revealed treatment-related changes in spectral power (increase in low ~ 4-Hz and decrease in high ~ 20-Hz frequencies) providing evidence of functional target engagement. All treatment arms had a similar proportion of participants showing above-threshold improvement on the primary composite endpoint, evaluating concomitant responses in cognition and independent functioning (29% in placebo, 20% in low dose, and 25% in high dose). Further analysis of the individual measures contributing to the primary endpoint revealed no difference between placebo and basmisanil-treated groups in either adolescents or adults. There were also no differences across the secondary endpoints assessing changes in executive function, language, or quality of life. Conclusions Basmisanil did not meet the primary efficacy objective of concomitant improvement on cognition and adaptive functioning after 6 months of treatment, despite evidence for target engagement. This study provides key learnings for future clinical trials in Down syndrome. Trial registration The study was registered on December 31, 2013, at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02024789.

GnRH replacement rescues cognition in Down syndrome

“…Furthermore, in our pilot study of DS patients, pulsatile GnRH therapy improved cognition, consistent with improved connectivity in the relevant brain regions. This is particularly important given that translational studies in DS have fallen short and no pharmacological therapy to date has appreciably improved cognition (1,(50)(51)(52)(53).…”

The impact of Mmu17 non-Hsa21 orthologous genes in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome: the “gold standard” revisited

“…In humans with DS, however, there are no literature reports supporting increased GABAergic inhibition in affected individuals. Treatment with the GABAA-α5 negative allosteric modulator basmisanil failed to improve cognition and adaptive functioning in affected individuals (74).…”

State‐of‐the‐art therapy for Down syndrome

“…However, despite electroencephalogram evidence of target engagement and initial promising results, basmisanil did not meet the primary efficacy objective of improving cognition and adaptive functioning. 45 The reason behind this failure was never explored, and questions arise regarding the approach and the endpoints used by this and other studies. 40 Notably, inhibition of K-Cl cotransporters 1 (NKCC1) by bumetanide, a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, and by ARN23746, lead candidate of a novel class of selective inhibitors of NKCC1, 46,47 restored synaptic plasticity and hippocampal-dependent memory in a Down syndrome mouse model.…”