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MK-6240, ~185 MBq

Phase 1

Alzheimer's Disease | Small molecule | Neurology |Merck & Company, Inc.|Last Updated: Sep 18, 2018

Success Probability

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Trial Design

CONTROLLED
Total Trials1
Total Enrollment13

FDA Designations

No designations recorded

Clinical trial landscape

MK-6240, ~185 MBq · 1 trial · 2 indications

Phase 1 1
NCT02562989[18F]MK-6240 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Tracer First-in-Human Validation Study (MK-6240-001)Alzheimer's Disease
COMPLETED13 Analytics
PHASE1COMPLETED
[18F]MK-6240 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Tracer First-in-Human Validation Study (MK-6240-001)
Alzheimer's DiseaseUnlock trial analytics

Study Endpoints

Primary Endpoints

Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)
Part 1: Up to 5 weeks; Part 2: up to 16 weeks

The number of participants experiencing an adverse event (AE) was monitored. An AE is any unfavorable and unintended medical occurrence, symptom, or disease witnessed in a participant, regardless of whether or not a causal relationship with the study treatment can be demonstrated. Further, any worsening of a preexisting condition that is temporally associated with the use of the study treatment is also considered an AE.

Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Due to an AE
Part 1: Up to 5 weeks; Part 2: up to 16 weeks

The number of participants discontinuing study due to an AE was monitored.

Effective Dose of [18F]MK-6240
Up to approximately 5 hours following [18F]MK-6240 administration

Mean effective dose (ED) of \[18F\]MK-6240 was calculated from whole-body (WB) PET scans of healthy young participants included in Part 1 of study. ED, reported as microsieverts (µSv) / megabecquerel (MBq), is a measure of WB radiation exposure risk that accounts for differences in individual organ exposure and organ susceptibility to ionizing radiation. Following \[18F\]MK-6240 PET tracer administration, organ-specific time-activity curves (TACs) and radioactivity residence times were utilized to calculate exposure risk for individual organs. These values calculated for individual organs were then entered into a human biodistribution model to determine ED of \[18F\]MK-6240.

Organ Effective Dose of [18F]MK-6240
Up to approximately 5 hours following [18F]MK-6240 administration

Mean organ ED of \[18F\]MK-6240 was calculated from WB PET scans of healthy young participants included in Part 1 of study. Organ ED, reported as micrograys (µGy) / MBq, is a measure of organ-specific radiation exposure risk. Following \[18F\]MK-6240 PET tracer administration, organ-specific TACs and radioactivity residence times were utilized to calculate organ ED for specific organs of the body.

Standardized Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR) of [18F]MK-6240 in Brain Regions of Interest
From 60 to 90 minutes following [18F]MK-6240 administration

As a surrogate of regional \[18F\[MK-6240 tracer distribution volume (VT), mean standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs), were calculated for specific brain regions of interest (ROIs) in healthy elderly as well as AD/MCI elderly participants in Part 2 of the study. Calculated using calibrated PET scan images from each participant, SUVR is the relative ratio of pixel intensities at a specific brain ROI compared to a reference region (RR; cerebellar cortex, for this study). For an individual participant, the average SUVR for each brain ROI is calculated starting at 60 minutes and ending at 90 minutes following \[18F\]MK-6240 administration to quantify tracer retention; referred to as "SUVR (60-90min)." An SUVR (60-90 min) \< 1 indicates decreased tracer retention at brain ROI relative to RR. An SUVR (60-90 min) = 1 indicates no difference in tracer retention at brain ROI relative to RR. An SUVR (60-90 min) \> 1 indicates increased tracer retention at brain ROI relative to RR.

Intra-subject Test-Retest (T-RT) Variability of Standardized Uptake Value Ratio (SUVR) in Brain Regions of Interest
Up to 16 weeks following initial dose of [18F]MK-6240

For each AD/MCI participant receiving 2 doses of MK-6240, the SUVR (60-90 min) during initial dose (SUVR\_1) was compared to the SUVR (60-90 min) during the second dose (SUVR\_2) to determine the percent test-retest (T-RT) variability of the SUVR (60-90 min) for each brain ROI. T-RT variability = (absolute value (SUVR\_1 - SUVR\_2) / average SUVR) \* 100. If T-RT variability = 0, indicates no variability between SUVR\_1 and SUVR\_2.

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Study Design & Arms

AllocationNON_RANDOMIZED
MaskingNONE
ModelPARALLEL
PurposeDIAGNOSTIC

Treatment Arms

ArmTypeDescription
Part 1, Healthy Young ParticipantsEXPERIMENTALHealthy young participants received a single intravenous (IV) dose of \~185 megabecquerel (MBq) \[18F\]MK-6240 in Part 1 of the study
Part 2, Healthy Elderly ParticipantsEXPERIMENTALHealthy elderly participants received a single IV dose of \~160 MBq \[18F\]MK-6240, in Part 2 of the study
Part 2, AD and Amnestic MCI Elderly ParticipantsEXPERIMENTALAD and amnestic MCI participants received up to two IV doses of \~160 MBq \[18F\]MK-6240 in Part 2 of the study

Interventions

NameTypeDescription
[18F]MK-6240, ~185 MBqDRUGIV dose of \~185 MBq \[18F\]MK-6240
[18F]MK-6240, ~160 MBqDRUGIV dose of \~160 MBq \[18F\]MK-6240
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Eligibility Criteria

Age Range18 Years to 85 Years
SexALL
Healthy VolunteersYes

Inclusion Criteria: Part 1 and Part 2: * Male, or non-pregnant and non-breast feeding female; in addition: * Male participant who is sexually active with females of childbearing potential must be willing to use a condom from the first dose of study drug until 3 months post the last dose of stud...

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Frequently asked questions about MK-6240, ~185 MBq

What is MK-6240 used for?

MK-6240 is an investigational small molecule being developed for Alzheimer's disease. It is a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer intended for imaging in this condition. As of the available data, it is in Phase 1 clinical development and has not been approved by regulatory authorities.

How does MK-6240 work?

MK-6240 is a PET tracer designed for use in Alzheimer's disease. It is intended to bind to a target in the brain, allowing visualization via PET imaging. The specific molecular target is not disclosed in the available information, so the precise mechanism of action is not detailed here.

Who makes MK-6240?

MK-6240 is being developed by Merck & Company, Inc., a pharmaceutical company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MRK. The company is conducting clinical trials to evaluate the drug for Alzheimer's disease.

What phase is MK-6240 in?

MK-6240 is in Phase 1 clinical development. It is an investigational drug and has not been approved by the FDA or any other regulatory agency. The available data shows one completed Phase 1 trial, and the drug remains under investigation for Alzheimer's disease.

What clinical trials is MK-6240 in?

MK-6240 has one completed clinical trial, NCT02562989, titled "[18F]MK-6240 Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Tracer First-in-Human Validation Study (MK-6240-001)." This Phase 1 study enrolled 13 participants with Alzheimer's disease or amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and healthy volunteers.

Is MK-6240 the same as [18F]MK-6240?

Yes, MK-6240 is also known as [18F]MK-6240, as indicated by the clinical trial title. The drug is a PET tracer, and the [18F] designation refers to the fluorine-18 radioisotope used in the imaging agent. Both names refer to the same investigational compound.