Numerous psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases like schizophrenia, dependency on drugs of abuse, depression and Parkinson's disease are related to motivational and cognitive deficits in value-based decision making, which frequently persist even after a successful pharmacological treatment. According to current neurobiologic models, cortical dopamine D1 receptors play a crucial role in taking value-based decisions. In this study, it will be investigated whether value-based decisions in healthy volunteers can be improved by stimulation of D1-receptors. For this purpose, a newly developed dopamine D1-agonist will be used, which selectively increases the activities of frontal D1- and D5-receptors. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, the effects of different single doses of PF-06412562, a not yet licensed D1-agonist, on value-based decision making will be compared with placebo. The use of different dosage strengths will allow to investigate a potential relationship between the extent of activity of the D1-receptor and its influence on behavioral indices. Therefore, four parallel groups will be investigated. Each participant takes in a single dose of either PF-06412562 in different doses or placebo. A screening exam will be carried out 1-3 weeks before the drug intake, and a follow-up examination will be carried out approx. 1 week after the drug intake. At all 3 visits in the study centre, several tests for the investigation of value-based decision making will be carried out.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
120
double-blind oral intake of single doses of the aforementioned drug or placebo
double-blind oral intake of single doses of the aforementioned drug or placebo
University Hospital Zurich, Dept. of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
Zurich, Switzerland
Change from baseline in a delay discounting task.
This validated computer-based decision-making test will be filled in by each participant at three time points during the study: 1-3 weeks before, 5 hours after, and approx. 1 week after a single oral intake of 1 out of 3 possible doses of PF-06412562, or matching placebo.
Time frame: 1-3 weeks before (= baseline), 5 hours after, and approx. 1 week after drug intake.
Change from baseline in a risk discounting task.
This validated computer-based decision-making test will be filled in by each participant at three time points during the study: 1-3 weeks before, 5 hours after, and approx. 1 week after a single oral intake of 1 out of 3 possible doses of PF-06412562, or matching placebo. It will be carried out after the test for outcome 1.
Time frame: 1-3 weeks before (= baseline), 5 hours after, and approx. 1 week after drug intake.
Effect of PF-06412562 on an effort discounting task (compared to placebo).
This validated computer-based decision-making test will be completed by each participant 5 hours after a single oral intake of 1 out of 3 possible doses of PF-06412562, or matching placebo and after having completed the tests for outcome 1 and 2.
Time frame: 5 hours after drug intake.
Effect of PF-06412562 on the Pavlovian to instrumental transfer task (compared to placebo).
This validated computer-based decision-making task tests Pavlovian acquisition and transfer. It will be carried out by each participant immediately after the test in outcome 3.
Time frame: 5 hours after drug intake.
Effect of PF-06412562 on an exploration / exploitation task (compared to placebo).
This validated computer-based decision-making task tests different aspects of value-based decision making. It will be carried out by each participant immediately after the test in outcome 4.
Time frame: 5 hours after drug intake.
Effect of PF-06412562 on a probabilistic reversal learning task (compared to placebo).
This validated computer-based decision-making task tests different aspects of value-based decision making. It will be carried out by each participant immediately after the test in outcome 5.
Time frame: 5 hours after drug intake.
Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (safety and tolerability of PF-06412562)
continuous assessment of adverse events by non-leading questions, repeated safety laboratory tests, repeated ECGs, repeated control of vital parameters.
Time frame: throughout the study and up to 1 week after study drug intake.
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