Dexmedetomidine in the Treatment of Agitation Associated With Bipolar Disorder (SERENITY II)
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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04276883 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : February 19, 2020
Last Update Posted : August 19, 2020
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Agitation Associated With Bipolar Disorder Agitation,Psychomotor Bipolar Disorder | Drug: Sublingual film containing Dexmedetomidine (BXCL501) Drug: Placebo Film | Phase 3 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 378 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Intervention Model Description: | phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Masking Description: | Double-blind, placebo-controlled |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Phase III Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Determine Efficacy and Safety of BXCL501 In Agitation Associated With Bipolar Disorder |
Actual Study Start Date : | February 24, 2020 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | May 21, 2020 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | May 21, 2020 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: 120 Micrograms
Sublingual film containing 120 Micrograms Dexmedetomidine
|
Drug: Sublingual film containing Dexmedetomidine (BXCL501)
Sublingual film containing Dexmedetomidine (BXCL501) |
Experimental: 180 Micrograms
Sublingual film containing 180 Micrograms Dexmedetomidine
|
Drug: Sublingual film containing Dexmedetomidine (BXCL501)
Sublingual film containing Dexmedetomidine (BXCL501) |
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Sublingual placebo film
|
Drug: Placebo Film
Placebo Film for BXCL501 |
- Primary End Point [ Time Frame: 120 minutes ]Absolute change from baseline in the PEC score at 2 hours
- Key Secondary Endpoint [ Time Frame: 120 minutes ]Earliest time where an effect on agitation is apparent as measured by change from baseline PEC total score in contrast with placebo

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 75 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male and female patients between the ages of 18 to 75 years, inclusive.
- Patients who have met DSM-5 criteria for bipolar I or II disorder.
- 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 PANSS Excited Component (PEC).
- Patients who have a score of ≥ 4 on at least 1 of the 5 items on the PEC at Baseline.
- Patients who read, understand and provide written informed consent.
- Patients who are in good general health prior to study participation as determined by a detailed medical history, physical examination, 12-lead ECG with rhythm strip, blood chemistry profile, hematology, urinalysis, and in the opinion of the Principal Investigator.
- Participants who agree to use a medically acceptable and effective birth control method
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with agitation caused by acute intoxication, including positive identification of alcohol by breathalyzer or drugs of abuse (with the exception of THC) during urine screening.
- Use of benzodiazepines or other hypnotics or oral or short-acting intramuscular antipsychotic drugs in the 4 hours before study treatment.
- Treatment with alpha-1 noradrenergic blockers (terazosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin, alfuzosin, or prazosin) or other prohibited medications.
- Patients who are judged to be at significant risk of suicide.
- Female patients who have a positive pregnancy test at screening or are breastfeeding.
- Patients who have 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, orthostatic hypotension.
- Patients with laboratory or ECG abnormalities considered clinically significant by the investigator.
- Patients with serious or unstable medical illnesses.
- Patients who have received an investigational drug within 30 days prior to the current agitation episode.
- Patients who are considered by the investigator, for any reason, to be an unsuitable candidate for receiving DEX.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04276883
United States, Arkansas | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72211 | |
United States, California | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Cerritos, California, United States, 90703 | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Culver City, California, United States, 90230 | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Long Beach, California, United States, 90806 | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Orange, California, United States, 92868 | |
United States, Florida | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Miami Lakes, Florida, United States, 33016 | |
United States, Illinois | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60640 | |
United States, Maryland | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States, 20877 | |
United States, Nevada | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89102 | |
United States, New Jersey | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Berlin, New Jersey, United States, 08009 | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Marlton, New Jersey, United States, 08053 | |
United States, South Carolina | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29407 | |
United States, Texas | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Austin, Texas, United States, 78754 | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
DeSoto, Texas, United States, 75115 | |
BioXcel Clinical Research Site | |
Richardson, Texas, United States, 75080 |
Responsible Party: | BioXcel Therapeutics Inc |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04276883 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
BXCL501-302 |
First Posted: | February 19, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | August 19, 2020 |
Last Verified: | March 2020 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Psychomotor Agitation Disease Bipolar Disorder Pathologic Processes Bipolar and Related Disorders Mood Disorders Mental Disorders Dyskinesias Neurologic Manifestations Nervous System Diseases Psychomotor Disorders Neurobehavioral Manifestations Dexmedetomidine |
Hypnotics and Sedatives Central Nervous System Depressants Physiological Effects of Drugs Analgesics, Non-Narcotic Analgesics Sensory System Agents Peripheral Nervous System Agents Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists Adrenergic alpha-Agonists Adrenergic Agonists Adrenergic Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action |