Evaluation and Application of a PET Tracer in Preclinical and Phase 1 Studies to Determine the Brain Biodistribution of Minzasolmin (UCB0599)

Abstract

Purpose: Minzasolmin (UCB0599) is an orally administered, small molecule inhibitor of ASYN misfolding in development as a potential disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson's disease. Here we describe the preclinical development of a radiolabeled tracer and results from a phase 1 study using the tracer to investigate the brain distribution of minzasolmin.

Procedures: In the preclinical study, two radiolabeling positions were investigated on the S-enantiomer of minzasolmin (UCB2713): [¹¹C]methylamine UCB2713 ([¹¹C-N-CH₃]UCB2713) and [¹¹C]carbonyl UCB2713 ([¹¹C-CO]UCB2713). Male C57 black 6 mice (N = 10) received intravenous [¹¹C-N-CH₃]UCB2713; brain homogenates were assessed for radioactivity and plasma samples analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) was used to image brains in a subset of mice (n = 3). In the open-label, phase 1 study, healthy volunteers were scanned twice with PET-CT following injection with [¹¹C]minzasolmin radiotracer (≤ 10 µg), first without, then with oral dosing with non-radiolabeled minzasolmin 360 mg.

Primary objective: to determine biodistribution of minzasolmin in the human brain; secondary objectives included minzasolmin safety/tolerability.

Results: Preclinical data supported the use of [¹¹C]minzasolmin in clinical studies. In the phase 1 study, PET data showed substantial drug signal in the brain of healthy volunteers (N = 4). The mean estimated whole brain total distribution volume (V_T) at equilibrium across all regions of interest was 0.512 mL/cm³, no difference in V_T was observed following administration of minzasolmin 360 mg. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported by 75% (n = 3) of participants. No drug-related TEAEs, deaths, serious adverse events, or discontinuations were reported.

Conclusion: Following positive preclinical results with the N-methyl labeled PET tracer, [¹¹C]minzasolmin was used in the phase 1 study, which demonstrated that minzasolmin readily crossed the blood-brain barrier and was well distributed throughout the brain. Safety and pharmacokinetic findings were consistent with previous early-phase studies (such as UP0077, NCT04875962).

Keywords: Alpha-synuclein; Brain distribution; Minzasolmin; PET tracers; PET-imaging; Parkinson’s disease; Phase 1 study.