Efficacy and Safety Study of Vortioxetine (Lu AA21004) for Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

A Multinational, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Dose Ranging Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Lu AA21004 in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of multiple doses of vortioxetine, once daily (QD), in participants with major depressive disorder.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Depressive Disorder, Major
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Vortioxetine; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

The drug that was tested in this study is called vortioxetine. Vortioxetine is being tested to treat depression in adults who have major depressive disorder (MDD). This study looked at MDD relief in people who took varying doses of vortioxetine.

The study enrolled 600 patients. Participants were randomly assigned (by chance, like flipping a coin) to one of the four treatment groups-which remained undisclosed to the patient and study doctor during the study (unless there was an urgent medical need):

• Vortioxetine 5 mg
• Vortioxetine 10 mg
• Vortioxetine 20 mg
• Placebo (dummy inactive pill) - this was a capsule that looked like the study drug but had no active ingredient.

All participants were asked to take one capsule at the same time each day throughout the study.

This multi-center trial was conducted in 14 countries in Europe and Asia. The overall time to participate in this study was up to 13 weeks. Participants made weekly visits to the clinic during the first 2 weeks of the 8-week treatment period and then every 2 weeks up to the end of the 8-week treatment period. Participants who completed the 8-week treatment period entered a 2-week discontinuation period to assess potential discontinuation symptoms 1 and 2 weeks after the end of the 8-week treatment period. A safety follow-up contact (visit or phone call) was made 4 weeks after completion of the 8-week double-blind treatment period (2 weeks after the end of the 2-week discontinuation period).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 600
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Croatia
  • Split, Croatia
  • Zagreb, Croatia
• Finland
  • Helsinki, Finland
  • Kuopio, Finland
  • Oulu, Finland
  • Tampere, Finland
• Germany
  • Berlin, Germany
  • Bochum, Germany
  • Chemnitz, Germany
  • Hannover, Germany
  • Leipzig, Germany
  • Munchen, Germany
  • Nuernberg, Germany
  • Schwerin, Germany
  • Westerstede, Germany
  • Wiesbaden, Germany
• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• India
  • Andhra Pradesh
    • Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Gujarat
    • Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
  • Uttar Pradesh
    • Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
    • Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • UttarPradesh
    • Kanpur, UttarPradesh, India
• Japan
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Aichi
    • Tokoname-shi, Aichi, Japan
  • Fukuoka
    • Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
    • Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
    • Omuta-shi, Fukuoka, Japan
  • Fukushima
    • Shirakawa-shi, Fukushima, Japan
  • Hokkaido
    • Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido, Japan
  • Kanagawa
    • Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Japan
  • Kumamoto
    • Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto, Japan
• Korea, Republic of
  • Gyeonggi-do
    • Sungnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Republic of
  • Korea
    • Incheon, Korea, Korea, Republic of
    • Seoul, Korea, Korea, Republic of
    • Yangsan-si, Korea, Korea, Republic of
• Latvia
  • Liepaja, Latvia
  • Riga, Latvia
  • Sigulda, Latvia
• Malaysia
  • Johor Bahru, Malaysia
  • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Philippines
  • NCR
    • Makati City, NCR, Philippines
    • Mandaluyong City, NCR, Philippines
    • Manila, NCR, Philippines
    • Quezon City, NCR, Philippines
• Poland
  • Bialystok, Poland
  • Gorlice, Poland
  • Leszno, Poland
  • Torun, Poland
  • Zuromin, Poland
• Romania
  • Bucharest, Romania
  • Bucuresti, Romania
  • Lasi
    • Iasi, Lasi, Romania
  • Mures
    • Targu Mures, Mures, Romania
• Russian Federation
  • Russia
    • Ekaterinburg, Russia, Russian Federation
    • Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Russian Federation
    • Rostov on Don, Russia, Russian Federation
    • Saint-Petersburg, Russia, Russian Federation
    • Smolensk, Russia, Russian Federation
    • St. Petersburg, Russia, Russian Federation
    • Stavropol, Russia, Russian Federation
• Serbia
  • Belgrade, Serbia
  • Kragujevac, Serbia
  • Senta, Serbia
• Taiwan
  • Changhua, Taiwan
  • Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan
  • Taipei City, Taiwan
  • Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan
• Ukraine
  • Chernigiv region, Ukraine
  • Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine
  • Kharkiv,, Ukraine
  • Kiev, Ukraine
  • Lugansk, Ukraine

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 64 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Suffers from Major Depressive Disorder as the primary diagnosis according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria (classification code 296.2x and 296.3x).
2. The reported duration of the current major depressive episode is at least 3 months at the Screening Visit.
3. Has a Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score ≥26 at the Screening and Baseline Visits.
4. Has a Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity (CGI-S) score ≥4 at the Screening and Baseline Visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has one or more of the following conditions:

   • Any current psychiatric disorder other than Major Depressive Disorder as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR; assessed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview: MINI). A participant who exhibits symptoms of anxiety is eligible unless fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for a current anxiety disorder per DSM-IV-TR.
   • Current diagnosis or history of manic or hypomanic episode, schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder, including major depression with psychotic features, mental retardation, organic mental disorders, or mental disorders due to a general medical condition as defined in the DSM-IV-TR.
   • Current diagnosis or history of any substance-related disorder (except nicotine and caffeine-related disorders) as defined in the DSM-IV-TR. Participant with confirmed positive urine drug screens (except prescribed medications or a medication that does not constitute drug abuse) will be excluded.
   • Presence or history of a clinically significant neurological disorder (including epilepsy).
   • Neurodegenerative disorder. (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, etc.)
   • Any DSM-IV-TR axis II disorder that might compromise the study.
2. The current depressive symptoms of the participant are considered by the investigator to have been resistant to 2 adequate antidepressant treatments of at least 6 weeks duration each.
3. Has received electroconvulsive, vagal nerve stimulation, or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy within 6 months prior to the Screening Visit.
4. Is currently receiving formal cognitive or behavioral therapy, systematic psychotherapy, or plans to initiate such therapy during the study.
5. Is at significant risk of suicide or has a score ≥5 on Item 10 (suicidal thoughts) of the MADRS, or has attempted suicide within 6 months prior to the Screening Visit.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Placebo; Vortioxetine placebo-matching tablets, orally, once daily for up to 10 weeks.	Drug: Placebo; Vortioxetine placebo-matching tablets
Experimental: Vortioxetine 5 mg; Vortioxetine 5 mg, tablets, orally, once daily for 8 weeks, followed by vortioxetine placebo-matching tablets, orally, once daily for 2 weeks.	Drug: Vortioxetine; Vortioxetine tablets; Other Names: Lu AA21004; Brintellix®; Drug: Placebo; Vortioxetine placebo-matching tablets
Experimental: Vortioxetine 10 mg; Vortioxetine 10 mg, tablets, orally, once daily for 8 weeks, followed by vortioxetine placebo-matching tablets, orally, once daily for 2 weeks.	Drug: Vortioxetine; Vortioxetine tablets; Other Names: Lu AA21004; Brintellix®; Drug: Placebo; Vortioxetine placebo-matching tablets
Experimental: Vortioxetine 20 mg; Vortioxetine 10 mg, tablets, orally, once daily for 1 week, followed by vortioxetine 20 mg, tablets, orally, once daily for 7 weeks, followed by vortioxetine placebo-matching tablets, orally, once daily, for 2 weeks.	Drug: Vortioxetine; Vortioxetine tablets; Other Names: Lu AA21004; Brintellix®; Drug: Placebo; Vortioxetine placebo-matching tablets

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score	The MADRS is a depression rating scale consisting of 10 items, each rated 0 (normal) to 6 (most abnormal). The 10 items represent the core symptoms of depressive illness. The overall score ranges from 0 (symptoms absent) to 60 (severe depression). A decrease in the total score or on individual items indicates improvement. Least squares (LS) means were from an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) model with treatment as a fixed factor and the Baseline value as a covariate.	Baseline and Week 8

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Participants in MADRS Remission at Week 8	Remission is defined as a participant with a Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score ≤10. The MADRS is a depression rating scale consisting of 10 items, each rated 0 to 6. The 10 items represent the core symptoms of depressive illness. The overall score ranges from 0 (symptoms absent) to 60 (severe depression). Decrease in the total score or on individual items indicates improvement.	Week 8
Percentage of Participants With a MADRS Response at Week 8	Response is defined as a participant with a ≥50% decrease in Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score from Baseline. The MADRS is a depression rating scale consisting of 10 items, each rated 0 to 6. The 10 items represent the core symptoms of depressive illness. The overall score ranges from 0 (symptoms absent) to 60 (severe depression). Decrease in the total score or on individual items indicates improvement.	Baseline and Week 8
Mean Clinical Global Impression Scale - Improvement (CGI-I) Score at Week 8	The Clinical Global Impression - Global Improvement scale assesses the participant's improvement (or worsening) as assessed by the clinician relative to Baseline on a 7-point scale: 1, very much improved; 2, much improved; 3, minimally improved; 4, no change; 5, minimally worse; 6, much worse; or 7, very much worse. LS means were from an ANCOVA model with treatment as a fixed factor and the Baseline Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness (CGI-S) score as a covariate.	Week 8
Change From Baseline in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Total Score at Week 8	The Sheehan Disability Scale assesses functional impairment in 3 domains: work/school, social life or leisure activities, and family life or home responsibilities. The participant rates the extent to which each aspect is impaired on a 10-point visual analog scale, from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). The 3 scores are added together to calculate the total score, which ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more impairment. LS means were from an ANCOVA model with treatment as a fixed factor and the Baseline value as a covariate.	Baseline and Week 8

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Takeda

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Nishimura A, Aritomi Y, Sasai K, Kitagawa T, Mahableshwarkar AR. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 8-week trial of the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of 5, 10, and 20 mg/day vortioxetine in adults with major depressive disorder. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2018 Feb;72(2):64-72. doi: 10.1111/pcn.12565. Epub 2017 Oct 3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2010
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 6, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 6, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): December 7, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): December 18, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2013
• Last Verified: October 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Depression; Drug Therapy; Major Depressive Disorder; Melancholia
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Pathologic Processes; Mood Disorders; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Disease; Depressive Disorder, Major; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Central Nervous System Depressants; Tranquilizing Agents; Psychotropic Drugs; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; Membrane Transport Modulators; Serotonin Agents; Antidepressive Agents; Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Agonists; Serotonin Receptor Agonists; Serotonin Antagonists; Anti-Anxiety Agents; Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists; Vortioxetine
• Other Study ID Numbers: LuAA21004/CCT-002; 2010-022257-41 (EudraCT Number); U1111-1117-6595 (Registry Identifier: WHO); JapicCTI-101344 (Registry Identifier: JapicCTI); CTRI/2011/08/001963 (Registry Identifier: CTRI)