Quantitative Analysis of T‐wave Morphology Increases Confidence in Drug‐Induced Cardiac Repolarization Abnormalities: Evidence From the Investigational IKr Inhibitor Lu 35–138

This study investigates repolarization changes induced by a new candidate drug to determine whether a composite electrocardiographic (ECG) measure of T-wave morphology could be used as a reliable marker to support the evidence of abnormal repolarization, which is indicated by QT interval prolongation. Seventy-nine healthy subjects were included in this parallel study. After a baseline day during which no drug was given, 40 subjects received an I(Kr)-blocking antipsychotic compound (Lu 35-138) on 7 consecutive days while 39 subjects received placebo. Resting ECGs were recorded and used to determine a combined measure of repolarization morphology (morphology combination score [MCS]), based on asymmetry, flatness, and notching. Replicate measurements were used to determine reliable change and study power for both measures. Lu 35-138 increased the QTc interval with corresponding changes in T-wave morphology as determined by MCS. For subjects taking Lu 35-138, T-wave morphology was a more reliable indicator of I(Kr) inhibition than QTcF (chi(2) = 20.3, P = .001). At 80% study power for identifying a 5-millisecond placebo-adjusted change from baseline for QTcF, the corresponding study power for MCS was 93%. As a covariate to the assessment of QT interval liability, MCS offered important additive information to the effect of Lu 35-138 on cardiac repolarization.