A Study of the Efficacy of Intravenous Esketamine in Adult Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression

April 25, 2025 updated by: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

A Double-Blind, Double-Randomization, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy of Intravenous Esketamine in Adult Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of esketamine compared with placebo in improving symptoms of depression in patients with treatment resistant depression.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This is a double-blind (neither physician nor patient knows the treatment that the patient receives), double-randomization (the study drug is assigned by chance), placebo-controlled (placebo is an inactive substance that is compared with a drug to test whether the drug has a real effect in a clinical trial), multiple dose titration study in adult patients with treatment resistant depression (TRD). The study will assess the efficacy of esketamine at 24 hours after dosing on Day 1, administered as a 0.40 mg/kg and 0.20 mg/kg intravenous (i.v.) infusion, compared with placebo in improving symptoms of depression in patients with TRD, using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The study will consist of 3 phases: a screening phase of up to 2 weeks, a 7-day double-blind treatment phase (Day 1 to Day 7), and a 4-week posttreatment (follow up) phase. The interval between the first and last dose of study medication is 3 days. The total study duration for each patient will be a maximum of 7 weeks.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
30

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Belgium
      • Dave, Belgium
      • Gent, Belgium
      • Kortenberg, Belgium
      • Lede, Belgium
  • Germany
      • Berlin, Germany
      • Freiburg, Germany
      • Mainz, Germany
      • Munchen, Germany
  • Poland
      • Gdansk, Poland

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 64 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Be medically stable on the basis of clinical laboratory tests
  • Diagnostic for major depressive disorder (MDD) without psychotic features
  • Have an inadequate response to at least 1 antidepressant in the current episode of depression and at least one other inadequate treatment response to an antidepressant either in the current episode or in a previous episode
  • Women must be not pregnant; women must be postmenopausal, surgically sterile or, if heterosexually active, practicing a highly effective method of birth control during the study and for 3 months after receiving the last dose of study drug
  • Men must agree to use a double barrier method of birth control and to not donate sperm during the study and for 3 months after receiving the last dose of study drug
  • Signed informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of, or current signs and symptoms of diseases or conditions that would make participation not be in the best interest (eg, compromise the well-being) of the patient or that could prevent, limit, or confound the protocol-specified assessments
  • Has uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure (SBP)> 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP)> 90 mmHg despite diet, exercise or a stable dose of an allowed anti-hypertensive treatment) or any past history of hypertensive crisis
  • Has known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infection, or have positive results at screening
  • Has a primary diagnosis of current (active) generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, anorexia nervosa, or bulimia nervosa
  • Has a history or current diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, mental retardation, or borderline personality disorders, mood disorder with postpartum onset, somatoform disorders or chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Has had major surgery, (eg, requiring general or local anesthesia) within 4 weeks before screening, or will not have fully recovered from surgery, or planned surgery during the time the subject is expected to participate in the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Drug: Placebo
Form= intravenous infusion, route= intravenous use. One single placebo intravenous infusion administered on Day 1 and Day 4.
Experimental: Esketamine (Group 1)
Drug: Esketamine
Type= exact number, number= 0.20, unit= mg/kg, form= intravenous infusion, route= intravenous use. One single intravenous infusion of esketamine 0.20 mg/kg administered on Day 1 and Day 4.
Drug: Esketamine
Type= exact number, number= 0.40, unit= mg/kg, form= intravenous infusion, route= intravenous use. One single intravenous infusion of esketamine 0.40 mg/kg administered on Day 1 and Day 4.
Experimental: Esketamine (Group 2)
Drug: Esketamine
Type= exact number, number= 0.20, unit= mg/kg, form= intravenous infusion, route= intravenous use. One single intravenous infusion of esketamine 0.20 mg/kg administered on Day 1 and Day 4.
Drug: Esketamine
Type= exact number, number= 0.40, unit= mg/kg, form= intravenous infusion, route= intravenous use. One single intravenous infusion of esketamine 0.40 mg/kg administered on Day 1 and Day 4.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from Day 1 (baseline) to Day 2 in the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score in the double-blind treatment phase
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 2
The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detects changes due to antidepressant treatment. The test consists of 10 items, each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of the symptoms), for a total score of 60. Higher scores represent a more severe condition.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 2

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change from Day 1 (baseline) to Day 4 in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) symptoms using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score in the double-blind treatment phase
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 4
The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detects changes due to antidepressant treatment. The test consists of 10 items, each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of the symptoms), for a total score of 60. Higher scores represent a more severe condition.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 4
Change from Day 1 (baseline) to Day 35 in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) symptoms using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score during the posttreatment phase
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 35
The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detects changes due to antidepressant treatment. The test consists of 10 items, each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of the symptoms), for a total score of 60. Higher scores represent a more severe condition.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 35
The number of patients who have a reduction in Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score of >50% versus baseline on Day 2
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 2
The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detects changes due to antidepressant treatment. The test consists of 10 items, each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of the symptoms), for a total score of 60. Higher scores represent a more severe condition.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 2
Change from Day 1 (baseline) to Day 4 in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) symptoms using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report- 14-Item (QIDS-SR14)
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 4
The QIDS-SR14, s a version of the QIDS-SR16 with a shorter, 24-hour recall period that has been developed for this trial. The total score ranges from 0 to 27. Using a scale of severity of depression of none, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe, corresponding QIDS-SR16 total scores are none 1-5, mild 6-10, moderate 11-15, severe 16-20 and very severe 21-27.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 4
Change from Day 1 (baseline) to Day 14 in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) symptoms using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report-16-item (QIDS-SR16)
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 14
The QIDS-SR16 is a patient reported measure designed to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. The total score ranges from 0 to 27. Using a scale of severity of depression of none, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe, corresponding QIDS-SR16 total scores are none 1-5, mild 6-10, moderate 11-15, severe 16-20 and very severe 21-27.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 14
Change from Day 1 (baseline) to Day 7 in severity of illness using the Clinical Global Impression- Severity (CGI-S) for esketamine compared to placebo
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 7
The CGI-S is a physician-rated scale that is designed to rate the severity of the patient's illness at the time of assessment, relative to the clinician's past experience with patients who have the same diagnosis and improvement with treatment. Considering total clinical experience, a patient is assessed on severity of mental illness at the time of rating according to: 0= not assessed; 1=normal (not at all ill); 2=borderline mentally ill; 3=mildly ill; 4=moderately ill; 5=markedly ill; 6=severely ill; 7=among the most extremely ill patients.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 7
Change from Day 1 (baseline) to Day 7 of global change in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) since start of study treatment, as measured by the Clinical Global Impression- Improvement (CGI-I)
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 7
The CGI-I is a 7-point scale that requires the clinician to assess how much the patient's illness has improved or worsened relative to a baseline state at the beginning of the intervention and rated as: 0= not assessed; 1=very much improved; 2=much improved; 3=minimally improved; 4=no change; 5=minimally worse; 6=much worse; 7=very much worse.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 7
Change from Day 1 (baseline) to Day 7 in severity of illness using the Patient Global Impression - Severity (PGI-S) for esketamine compared to placebo
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 7
The PGI-S is a 4-point scale that requires the patient to rate the severity of their illness at the time of assessment, relative to the patient's past experience. Considering their total experience, the patient assesses the severity of their depression illness at the time of rating as none, mild, moderate or severe.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 7
Change from Day 1 (baseline) to Day 7 in patient perspective of global change in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) since start of study treatment, as measured by the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGI-C)
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 7
The PGI-C is a 7-point scale that requires the patient to assess how much their illness has improved or worsened relative to a baseline state at the beginning of the intervention. The response options are: very much improved; much improved; improved (just enough to make a difference); no change; worse (just enough to make a difference); much worse; or very much worse.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 7
Change from Day 4 to Day 7 in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) symptoms using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score in the double-blind treatment phase
Time Frame: Day 4, Day 7
The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detects changes due to antidepressant treatment. The test consists of 10 items, each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of the symptoms), for a total score of 60. Higher scores represent a more severe condition.
Day 4, Day 7
The number of patients who have a reduction in Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score of >50% versus baseline on Day 3
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 3
The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detects changes due to antidepressant treatment. The test consists of 10 items, each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of the symptoms), for a total score of 60. Higher scores represent a more severe condition.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 3
The number of patients who have a reduction in Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score of >50% versus baseline on Day 4
Time Frame: Day 1 (baseline), Day 4
The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detects changes due to antidepressant treatment. The test consists of 10 items, each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of the symptoms), for a total score of 60. Higher scores represent a more severe condition.
Day 1 (baseline), Day 4
Change from Day 4 to Day 7 in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) symptoms using the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report- 14-Item (QIDS-SR14)
Time Frame: Day 4, Day 7
The QIDS-SR14, s a version of the QIDS-SR16 with a shorter, 24-hour recall period that has been developed for this trial. The total score ranges from 0 to 27. Using a scale of severity of depression of none, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe, corresponding QIDS-SR16 total scores are none 1-5, mild 6-10, moderate 11-15, severe 16-20 and very severe 21-27.
Day 4, Day 7

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Janssen Research & Development, LLC Clinical Trial, Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 27, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 3, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 3, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 11, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 11, 2012

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 13, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 29, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 25, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • CR100843
  • ESKETIVTRD2001 (Other Identifier: Janssen Research & Development, LLC)
  • 2011-005992-17 (EudraCT Number)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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