This application entitled ?Clinical development of an mGlu2 positive allosteric modulator to treat nicotine addiction? is in response to PAR-18-219 ?Grand Opportunity in Medications Development for Substance-Use Disorders (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)?. This application represents the continuation of our current work under the U01 DA041731 funded from 9/1/2017 through 5/31/2020 entitled ?Preclinical Studies for the Development of Selective mGlu2 Positive Allosteric Modulators to Treat Substance Abuse Disorders?. Cigarette smoking, attributable primarily to the addictive properties of nicotine, is one of the largest preventable causes of disease and death in the US. Metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 2 (mGlu2) receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) represent an innovative strategy to treat nicotine addiction. Medications that activate mGlu2 receptors can be effective via a dual mechanism by a) reversing the acute effects of nicotine, thus decreasing drug reinforcement, and b) restoring glutamatergic function to normal levels, thus preventing relapse to drug use. Our lead drug candidate, SBI-0069330, is a potent and selective mGlu2 PAM with excellent drug-like properties including oral bioavailability, brain penetration, and metabolic stability. Importantly, SBI-0069330 reduces nicotine self-administration and cue-induced nicotine reinstatement in rats without affecting natural food reward. In addition, SBI-0069330 has been shown to be well-tolerated and safe in 14-day toxicology studies in rats and dogs. We are on track to complete the data package to support SBI-0069330 as a clinical candidate under the current U01 DA041731 grant by May 31, 2020. The overall objective of this grant application is to advance SBI- 0069330 into the clinic and determine its safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic (PK) profile in healthy human subjects.
The specific aims of this proposal are: (1) Complete the investigational new drug (IND) application for SBI-0069330, submit for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review, and obtain allowance for human testing; (2) Manufacture drug product with a formulation suitable for human dosing in Phase 1 clinical studies; (3) Complete Phase 1 clinical studies in healthy volunteers and determine the safety, tolerability, and PK profile of SBI-0069330 in humans and (4) Complete CMC development and toxicology testing to support a future 12-week Phase 2A clinical efficacy trial. We have assembled a multidisciplinary team of investigators who have the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience to achieve these milestones. This team has been collaborating fruitfully and effectively with the team of Jane Acri and David White at NIDA under the current U01 DA041731 grant. The infrastructure required to undertake the proposed work is fully established and operational. We have also manufactured sufficient active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of SBI-0069330 that can be readily formulated into drug product and used for dosing in the Phase 1 clinical studies without delay after acceptance of the IND application. Achievement of the indicated milestones will produce a clinical compound ready for a Phase 2A proof-of-concept efficacy study for nicotine addiction.
Cigarette smoking is a major public health problem with a substantial burden on society. The few treatment options available for quitting smoking are limited by low efficacy and poor tolerability, resulting in low abstinence rates. We propose the clinical development of SBI-0069330, a potent and selective mGlu2 positive allosteric modulator, to treat nicotine addiction, based on its excellent drug-like properties, in vivo efficacy in animal models and acceptable safety/tolerability profile in rats and dogs.
