Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Encenicline, a Selective α7 Nicotinic Receptor Partial Agonist, in Single Ascending-dose and Bioavailability Studies

Purpose: Encenicline (EVP-6124) is a selective alpha(7) nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist being developed for cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. We report on 2 single-dose studies to assess the relative bioavailability, pharmacokinetic profile, tolerability, and cognitive effects of encenicline in healthy volunteers. Methods: A single ascending-dose study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic profiles of encenicline in healthy male volunteers. Subjects received a single 1-, 3.5-, 7-, 20-, 60-, or 180-mg oral solution dose of encenicline or placebo. A second single-dose, randomized, open-label, 3-period, crossover study in healthy male and female subjects compared the relative bioavailability of a 1-mg oral capsule versus a 1-mg oral solution dose of encenicline and evaluated the effects of food and sex on encenicline pharmacokinetic profile. Findings: In the first study, encenicline was well tolerated and dose-proportional increases in C-max (mean range 0.59-100 ng/mL) and AUC(0-infinity), (mean range 45.6-8890 ng.h/mL) were observed over a 1- to 180-mg dose range. Procognitive effects on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test were maximal at the 20-mg dose. In the second study, encenicline 1-mg oral capsules and oral solution were bioequivalent and there was no observed food effect on encenicline pharmacokinetic profile with the 90% confidence intervals of the treatment ratios for both comparisons (ie, capsule to solution and fed to fasted) for C-max and AUG being within 80% to 125%. A 30% to 40% higher encenicline exposure in female subjects than respective values in male subjects was consistent with a 33% higher weight of the male subjects. No clinically relevant safety profile or tolerability effects of encenicline were observed. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier HS Journals, Inc.