Autifony presents key efficacy data for AUT00206 from a first-in-patient safety/PK study in patients with schizophrenia at the Schizophrenia International Research Society annual meeting
Stevenage, 16th April 2021 – This weekend Dr Charles Large will present key biomarker efficacy data from a first study of AUT00206 in patients with schizophrenia to the Schizophrenia International Research Society meeting as part of the Pharmaceutical Pipeline symposium. Autifony’s clinical study was conducted in collaboration with Kings College London and was led by Dr Oliver Howes. AUT00206 is a Autifony’s lead Kv3.1 modulator that reduced the impact of ketamine on BOLD responses in healthy volunteers (Deakin et al. 2019). This first patient study was designed to explore the safety and pharmacokinetics of the drug when given to patients with schizophrenia who were taking antipsychotic medication. The study also allowed us to investigate a series of key efficacy biomarkers associated with schizophrenia and Kv3.1 channel function, including mismatch negativity and auditory processing.
Treatment with AUT00206 improved mismatch negativity and measures of auditory information processing at different levels of the auditory system, consistent with the assumption that Kv3.1 channels are critically involved in establishing high fidelity information processing and transfer. Treatment of sensory deficits represents a novel, but long overdue approach that could lead to improvements in the quality of life of patients with schizophrenia. Auditory deficits may be associated with underlying pathology, and so targeting Kv3 channels may have a broader efficacy across symptom domains.
Deakin, B., Perini, F., Nazimek, J., McKie, S., Hutchison, J.B., McFarquhar, M., Turgut, T., Sajjala, A., Lovick, S., Alvaro, G., Dourish, C., Large, C.H. 2019. AUT00206, A novel Kv3 channel modulator, reduces ketamine-induced BOLD signalling in healthy male volunteers: A randomised, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Sch. Bull., 45 (S2), S245–S246