Examining the Impact of Sirolimus on Ketamine's Antidepressant Effects

July 2, 2020 updated by: Yale University
The aim of the study is to provide insight into the impact of the immunosuppressant drug sirolimus, on the antidepressant effects of the prototypal rapid-acting antidepressant medication, ketamine.

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, placebo-controlled, crossover, randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of sirolimus on ketamine's antidepressant effects in participants with antidepressant-resistant depressive symptoms.

Prior to this, there was a phase 1 which included monitoring 3 subjects over the course of 7 days after a single dose of sirolimus and ketamine in order to inquire about side effects or interaction effects.

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.
23

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

  • United States
    • Connecticut
      • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06511
        • Yale New Haven Hospital
      • West Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06516
        • West Haven Veterans Affairs

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

21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Veterans and non-Veterans between the ages of 21-65.
  2. Diagnosis of Major Depressive Episode (unipolar or bipolar) as determined by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).
  3. Antidepressant-resistant depressive symptoms, defined by a history of failure of one or more adequate antidepressant trials.
  4. Stable doses of antidepressants (if prescribed) for a period of four weeks or longer at the time of randomization, except for MAOIs which are prohibited.
  5. Stable course of psychotherapy (if engaged in) for a period of four weeks or longer at the time of randomization.
  6. Females will be included if they are not pregnant or breastfeeding and agree to utilize a medically accepted birth control method (to include oral, injectable, or implant birth control, condom, diaphragm with spermicide, intrauterine device, tubal ligation, abstinence, or partner with vasectomy) or if post-menopausal for at least 1 year, or surgically sterile. For those women who are taking an oral contraceptive, we will also ask that they use (or ask their partners to use) a barrier method contraceptive.
  7. Able to provide written informed consent according to VA HSS guidelines.
  8. Ability to read and write in English.
  9. A score greater than or equal to 18 on the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Subjects with a diagnostic history of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, or currently exhibiting manic or mixed episodes or psychotic features as confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory.
  2. Current, ongoing serious suicidal risk as assessed by evaluating investigator or by scoring 5 or more on the item-10 of the MADRS.
  3. Patients with unstable or inadequately controlled medical conditions.
  4. Patient requiring prohibited medication.
  5. Patient with history of organ transplant.
  6. Meet criteria for a diagnosis of substance dependence (amphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, opioids, sedatives/hypnotics/anxiolytics) within the three months prior to screening date.
  7. Positive urine drug screen for cannabis, cocaine, PCP, or barbiturates.
  8. Positive pregnancy test at screening at any screen given during the study.
  9. Known sensitivity to sirolimus or ketamine.
  10. History of sensitivity to heparin or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
  11. Resting blood pressure lower than 85/55 or higher than 150/95, or resting heart rate lower than 45/min or higher than 100/min.

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: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover 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.
Experimental: ketamine + sirolimus (placebo at time 2)
Participants will be treated twice with ketamine 0.5 mg/kg infused over 40 minutes, combined with a single dose of sirolimus 6 mg orally. After two weeks, they will recieve another infusion of ketamine, and a single dose of placebo.
Drug: Ketamine
. Subjects will receive an infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg infusion over approximately 40 minutes). All subjects will receive two ketamine infusions-once with a placebo and once with a single dose of sirolimus (6 mg, oral administration).
Drug: sirolimus
Subjects will receive a single 6 mg oral dose via oral solution of sirolimus or a dose of placebo approximately two hours prior to the infusions. As above, the order of placebo and sirolimus is randomized. The sirolimus dose as well as the placebo solution will be given in 6 ounces of orange juice.
Other Names:
  • Rapamune
Drug: Placebo
Placebo oral dose
Placebo Comparator: ketamine + placebo (sirolimus at time 2)
Participants will be treated twice with ketamine 0.5 mg/kg infused over 40 minutes, combined with a single dose of sirolimus 6 mg placebo. After two weeks, they will recieve another infusion of ketamine, and a single dose of sirolimus 6 mg.
Drug: Ketamine
. Subjects will receive an infusion of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg infusion over approximately 40 minutes). All subjects will receive two ketamine infusions-once with a placebo and once with a single dose of sirolimus (6 mg, oral administration).
Drug: sirolimus
Subjects will receive a single 6 mg oral dose via oral solution of sirolimus or a dose of placebo approximately two hours prior to the infusions. As above, the order of placebo and sirolimus is randomized. The sirolimus dose as well as the placebo solution will be given in 6 ounces of orange juice.
Other Names:
  • Rapamune
Drug: Placebo
Placebo oral dose

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
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale
Time Frame: Pretreatment and 2 week
Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS): The MADRS is a standardized instrument to ascertain depressed mood and neurovegetative signs and symptoms of depression. Ranges from 0-60 (higher is worse).
Pretreatment and 2 week

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
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS)
Time Frame: Pretreatment and 2 week
Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms - Self-Report (QIDS-SR): The QIDS-SR is a patient-rated depression instrument. Ranges from 0-27 (higher is worse).
Pretreatment and 2 week
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA)
Time Frame: Pretreatment and 2 week
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A): The HAM-A is a standardized clinician-rated instrument to evaluate the severity of anxiety symptoms. Ranges from 0-56 (higher is worse).
Pretreatment and 2 week
Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS)
Time Frame: During infusion, approximately 40 mins
Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS): The CADSS has self and interviewer-administered items including 5 subscales, generated a priori, evaluating dissociation including altered environmental perception, time perception, spatial/body perception, derealization and memory impairment. Ranges from 0-108 (higher is worse).
During infusion, approximately 40 mins
Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) - Positive
Time Frame: During infusion, approximately 40 mins
Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS): The PANSS is commonly used to measure the severity of symptoms in psychotic disorders. It is a clinician- administered scale and includes three categories of symptoms: (1) positive symptoms, such as hallucination and delusion; (2) negative symptoms, such as flat affect and difficulty in abstract thinking; (3) general psychopathology, such as mannerisms and posturing. Ranges from 0-49 for positive scale (higher is worse).
During infusion, approximately 40 mins
Rapamycin Level
Time Frame: During infusion, approximately 0 mins
Plasma level of rapamycin (a.k.a. sirolimus).
During infusion, approximately 0 mins
Ketamine Level
Time Frame: During infusion, approximately 40 mins
Plasma level of ketamine
During infusion, approximately 40 mins

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.
Yale University

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.
  • Principal Investigator: Chadi Abdallah, MD, Yale University

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

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.
March 1, 2016

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.
January 1, 2020

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.
January 1, 2020

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).
June 29, 2015

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.
June 29, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

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 1, 2015

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.
July 16, 2020

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.
July 2, 2020

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.
July 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • 1504015604

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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