Urine chemistry may hold key to safer dosing for brain drug
NCT ID NCT01440478
First seen Sep 15, 2026 · Last updated Sep 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing whether making urine more acidic or more alkaline changes how the body processes an experimental drug called pomaglumetad methionil. In this Phase 1 study, 29 healthy volunteers receive the drug alone, with ammonium chloride to lower urine pH, or with sodium bicarbonate to raise it. The goal is to see if urine acidity alters the drug's levels in the blood and its active breakdown product. This could help doctors predict and adjust doses more reliably.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- pomaglumetad methionil, an experimental drug, tested alone and with ammonium chloride or sodium bicarbonate to change urine acidity
- What this could lead to
- If urine acidity changes drug levels, this could help researchers understand how to dose the drug more consistently and avoid unexpected side effects.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study in healthy people. It may not reflect how the drug behaves in patients, and the findings might not apply to real-world use.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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29 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
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Sep 2011
- Finished
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Oct 2011
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * are overtly healthy males or females, as determined by medical history and physical examination * female subjects of childbearing potential, who test negative for pregnancy at screening. Male subjects/female subjects of childbearing potential/female subjects who have been sterilized by tubal ligation and their partners will be required to use a condom (male condom or female condom) used in conjunction with spermicidal gel, foam, cream, film, or suppository from the time of screening (female subjects) or dosing (male subjects) until 3 months after the last dose of investigational product. Male subjects with female partners of childbearing potential and female subjects of childbearing potential will be requested to use an additional highly effective form of contraception from the first dosing occasion until 3 months after the last dose of investigational product. The additional method of contraception can be any of the following: diaphragm or cervical vault cap used in conjunction with spermicidal gel, foam, cream, film, or suppository; male sterilization, with the appropriate post vasectomy documentation of the absence of sperm in the ejaculate, or for female subjects the vasectomized male partner should be the sole partner for that subject; true abstinence (this must be due to subject's lifestyle choice; placement of an effective hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) (that is, Mirena Coil) (steel or copper IUDs are not acceptable); or established use of oral, injected, or implanted hormonal methods of contraception * female subjects who are of non childbearing potential, that is post menopausal or permanently sterile following hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy or confirmed tubal occlusion (not tubal ligation). Postmenopausal is defined as at least 1 year post cessation of menses (without an alternative medical cause) with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) ≥40 milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL) * have a body mass index (BMI) of 19 to 32 kilogram per square meter (kg/m²), inclusive, at the time of screening * have clinical laboratory test results within normal reference range for the population or investigator site, or results with acceptable deviations that are judged to be not clinically significant by the investigator * have venous access sufficient to allow for blood sampling * are reliable and willing to make themselves available for the duration of the study and are willing to follow study procedures * have given written informed consent approved by Lilly and the chosen ethical review board (ERB) * are willing to adhere to dietary requirements Exclusion Criteria: * are currently enrolled in, have completed or discontinued within the last 90 days from, a clinical trial involving an investigational product; or are concurrently enrolled in any other type of medical research judged not to be scientifically or medically compatible with this study * have known allergies to LY2140023, LY404039, ammonium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, related compounds, or any components of the formulation * are persons who have previously received the investigational product in this study, withdrawn from this study or any other study investigating LY2140023 or LY404039 * have an abnormality in the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) that, in the opinion of the investigator, increases the risks associated with participating in the study * have an abnormality in the serum chemistry of calcium, sodium, magnesium, or potassium, that, in the opinion of the investigator, increases the risks associated with participating in the study * have an abnormal supine and standing blood pressure or pulse rate, as determined by the investigator * have a history or presence of cardiovascular, respiratory, hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine, hematological, or neurological disorders capable of significantly altering the absorption, metabolism, or elimination of drugs; of constituting a risk when taking the study medication; or of interfering with the interpretation of data * have evidence of significant active neuropsychiatric disease (for example, manic depressive illness, schizophrenia, depression) * have increased risk of seizures based on a history of: * one or more seizures (except for a single simple febrile seizure \[lacking focality and lasting less than 15 minutes, not associated with a central nervous system (CNS) infection or severe metabolic disturbance\] as a child between ages 6 months to 5 years) * head trauma with loss of consciousness or a post concussive syndrome within 1 year or lifetime history of head trauma with persistent neurological deficit (focal or diffuse) * CNS infection, uncontrolled migraine or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 1 year; stroke with persistent neurological deficit (focal or diffuse), uncontrolled migraine is defined as migraine attacks that produce headache lasting up to 72 hours and are often accompanied by associated symptoms (nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia) that impair well-being and disrupt social functioning. TIA is defined as "mini-stroke" caused by temporary disturbance of blood supply to an area of the brain, which results in a sudden, brief decrease in brain function * CNS infection with persistent neurological deficit (focal or diffuse) * brain surgery * electroencephalogram (EEG) with paroxysmal (epileptiform) activity (isolated spikes waves, repetitive bursts of sharp waves, paroxysmal activity, frank seizures, spike-wave complexes, or sharp-slow wave complexes, or as locally defined) * brain structural lesion, including developmental abnormalities, as determined by examination or imaging studies (does not include hydrocephalus unless treated by shunt or resulting in neurological deficits) * show evidence of known substance dependence or abuse within 6 months prior to the study (according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders \[DSM IV\] diagnosis), or regularly use known drugs of abuse and/or show positive findings on urinary drug screening * show evidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and/or positive human HIV antibodies * show evidence of hepatitis C and/or positive hepatitis C antibody * show evidence of hepatitis B and/or positive hepatitis B surface antigen * are women with a positive pregnancy test or women who are lactating * intend to use over the counter (excluding most vitamin/mineral supplements but including herbal remedies/health supplements or prescription medication (excluding paracetamol, oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy) within 14 days prior to dosing of LY2140023. If this situation arises, inclusion of an otherwise suitable subject may be at the discretion of the investigator in consultation with the Lilly Clinical Pharmacologist (CP) or designee * have donated blood of more than 500 milliliter (mL) within 3 months prior to screening * have an average weekly alcohol intake that exceeds 28 units per week (males up to age 65) and 21 units per week (females), or are unwilling to stop alcohol consumption for the duration of the study (1 unit equals 12 \[ounce\] oz or 360 mL of beer; 5 oz or 150 mL of wine; 1.5 oz or 45 mL of distilled spirits) * have a clinical significant abnormality in the neurological examination * subjects judged prior to randomization to be at suicidal risk by the investigator * subjects who are unwilling to refrain from tobacco or nicotine containing products while in the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) or are unable to abide by the CRU restrictions * history of, in the opinion of the investigator, excessive methylxanthine use within previous 6 months, such as \>6 cups of coffee (or equivalent) per day * show evidence of active renal disease (for example, diabetic renal disease, polycystic kidney disease) or creatinine clearance (CrCL) less than 80 milliliter per minute (mL/min) (as calculated by the Cockcroft Gault equation) Men: \[(140 - age) \* (weight in kg) \* 1.23\] / (serum creatinine in micromoles per liter \[µmol/L\]). Women: \[(140 - age) \* (weight in kg) \* 1.04\] / (serum creatinine in µmol/L) * show evidence of pruritus or skin exfoliation * have an eosinophil count \>1.5 x 10\^9/liter (L) * have creatine kinase (CK) \>5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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For additional information regarding investigative sites for this trial, contact 1-877-CTLILLY (1-877-285-4559, 1-317-615-4559), Mon - Fri, from 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time (UTC/GMT - 5 hours, EST) or speak with your personal physician.
Leeds, United Kingdom
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