Dexmedetomidine in the Treatment of Agitation Associated With Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder (SERENITY III)

Completed · Phase 3 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Agitation,Psychomotor, Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophreniform Disorders

In brief

In this study, an investigational medication named BXCL501 is being tested for the treatment of episodes of agitation associated with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective and schizophreniform disorder. This study compares the study drug to a placebo.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05658510

Run by

BioXcel Therapeutics Inc

People needed

452

Starts

2022-11-21

Expected to finish

2025-08-15

Last updated by the study team

2026-08-07

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Male and female patients between the ages of 18 to 75 years, inclusive
• Patients who can read, understand and provide written informed consent.
• Patients who have met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual5/5-Text Revision criteria for bipolar I or bipolar II disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective or schizophreniform disorder.
• Patients who, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, are in good general health before study participation based on a detailed medical history, a physical examination, a 12-lead ECG, a blood chemistry profile, hematology, and urinalysis.
• Participants who agree to use a medically acceptable and effective birth control method
• Part 1 only
• Patients who are judged to be clinically agitated at Screening and Baseline with a total score of ≥ 14 on the 5 items (poor impulse control, tension, hostility, uncooperativeness, and excitement) comprising the PEC.
• Patients with a score of ≥4 on at least 1 of the 5 items on the PEC at Baseline.
• Part 2 only
• Patients have had at least three clinical presentations of agitation requiring an intervention (e.g., receipt of as needed [PRN] medication for the episode, clinic visit, emergency room visit, emergency medical services intervention, law enforcement intervention) in the past three months prior to Screening
• Patients who are receiving stable psychotropic treatment for 30 days prior to Screening for the underlying primary diagnosis and who are expected to remain on stable treatment for the duration of the study.
• The patient can understand and follow the study procedures, including completing the Agitation Episode Diary.

You may not qualify if…

• Patients with serious or unstable medical illnesses. These include current hepatic (moderate-severe hepatic impairment), renal, gastroenterological, respiratory, cardiovascular (including ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure), endocrinologic, or hematologic disease.
• A history of agitation episodes due to substance use.
• A diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, or narcissistic personality disorder that predated the diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• Patients who are judged to be at significant risk of suicide
• Female patients who have a positive pregnancy test at Screening or Baseline, or are breastfeeding.
• Patients currently treated with alpha-1 noradrenergic blockers (terazosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin, alfuzosin, or prazosin), alpha-2 adrenergic agonists, or other prohibited medications.
• Patients with hydrocephalus, seizure disorder, or history of significant head trauma, stroke, transient ischemic attack, subarachnoid bleeding, brain tumor, encephalopathy, meningitis, Parkinson's disease, or focal neurological findings.
• History of syncope or other syncopal attacks, current evidence of hypovolemia, or orthostatic hypotension
• Patients with laboratory or ECG abnormalities considered clinically significant by the Investigator
• Patients who have received an investigational drug within 30 days before the study start
• Patients who have previously received BXCL501 via prescription (under the trade name IGALMI™) or received BXCL501 in clinical trial
• Patients considered by the Investigator to be unsuitable candidates for receiving dexmedetomidine or considered to be unsuitable for participating in the study for any reason.
• Part 1 only
• Patients with agitation caused by acute intoxication, including identification of alcohol by breathalyzer or drugs of abuse (except for THC) during urine screening.
• Use of benzodiazepines or other hypnotics or antipsychotic drugs in the 4 hours before study treatment.
• Part 2 only
• Psychiatric comorbidities are generally allowed; however, moderate or severe substance use disorders (SUD) (within the past 6 months) are exclusionary if the substance involved is other than nicotine or caffeine. Cannabis use is not exclusionary if it is not the focus of treatment in the last 6 months before Screening.
• Self-injurious behavior that is active.
• Patients with known personal or family history of genetic long QT syndrome.
• Informant Inclusion Criteria:
• At least 18 years of age at the time of screening.
• Is a spouse, significant other, family member, friend, or home health aide, residence manager of an adult patient who is determined to be eligible for the study per the patient inclusion/exclusion criteria.
• Has known the patient for at least 3 months cumulatively.
• Currently living with or routinely contacting the patient at least five days a week.
• Does not plan to discontinue contact with the patient during the study period.

Where it is running

• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 113 — Bellflower, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 128 — Cerritos, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 110 — Culver City, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 108 — Garden Grove, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 117 — Lemon Grove, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 121 — Los Angeles, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 123 — Oceanside, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 104 — Orange, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 133 — Rancho Cucamonga, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 114 — Riverside, California, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 129 — Denver, Colorado, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 131 — Miami, Florida, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 124 — Miami, Florida, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 130 — Elgin, Illinois, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 103 — Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 118 — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 137 — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 105 — Berlin, New Jersey, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 122 — Beachwood, Ohio, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 136 — Austin, Texas, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 102 — DeSoto, Texas, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 125 — Irving, Texas, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 127 — Plano, Texas, United States
• BioXcel Clinical Research Site 126 — Everett, Washington, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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