A Study to Investigate the Different Modes of (S) Ketamine Administration in Healthy Participants

A Randomized, Participant- and Investigator Blind, Double Dummy, Placebo- and Comparator-controlled, Single Ascending Dose and Parallel-group Study to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Different Modes of (S) Ketamine Administration in Healthy Participants

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of different modes of (S) ketamine administration in healthy participants.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Placebo; Drug: (S)-ketamine Oral Thin Film; Drug: (S)-ketamine IV Infusion

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 96
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Belgium
  • Merksem, Belgium, 2170
    • Clinical Pharmacology Unit

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years to 46 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 20 and 28 kilogram per meter square (kg/m^2), inclusive (BMI=weight/height^2) with a minimum weight of 60 kilogram (kg) and a maximum of 100 kg
• Participant must be healthy based on clinical laboratory tests performed at screening. If the results of the serum chemistry panel, hematology or urinalysis are outside the normal reference ranges, retesting of an abnormal lab value(s) that may lead to exclusion will be allowed once during the screening phase
• Participant must be healthy based on physical and neurological examination, medical history, vital signs, and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) (including QT corrected according to Fridericia's formula [QTcF] less than or equal to [<=] 450 milliseconds [msec] for males and <= 470 msec for females) performed at screening. Abnormalities, which are not considered to be of clinical significance by the Investigator, are acceptable. The presence of left bundle branch block (LBBB), atrioventricular (AV) Block (second degree or higher), or a permanent pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) will lead to exclusion
• Participant must have systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) within normal limits at screening and at Day -1: supine SBP of at least 90 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and maximum 150mmHg, supine diastolic blood pressure (DBP) should be above 50mmHg and below 90mmHg and the HR must be between 45 beats per minute (BPM) and 100 BPM. If the results are outside the normal reference ranges above, retesting will be allowed once during the screening phase
• Non-smoker (not smoked for 3 months prior to screening)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cardiac arrhythmias or other cardiac disease, hematological disease, hypertension, lipid abnormalities, respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus, renal or hepatic insufficiency, thyroid disease, Parkinson's disease, infection, or any other illness that the Investigator considers should exclude the participant
• Positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibodies at screening visit
• Participant has a history of drug or alcohol use disorder or psychiatric disorder according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) (DSM-V) criteria within 6 months before screening (for example psychotic, bipolar, major depressive, or anxiety disorder) or positive test result(s) for alcohol and/or drugs of abuse (opiates (including methadone), cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, cannabinoids, barbiturates, ecstasy and benzodiazepines) at screening or admission
• Drinks, on average, more than 8 cups of tea/coffee/cocoa/cola per day
• Clinically significant acute illness within 7 days prior to study drug administration

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Part 1: OTF Sublingual and IV; Participants will receive (S)-ketamine oral thin film (OTF) at a dose of 7 milligram (mg) [cohort 1], 14 mg [cohort 2], and 28 mg [cohort 3] via sublingual route or 14 mg (S)-ketamine intravenous (IV) infusion for 40 minutes or matching placebo in 1 of 3 serial cohorts. Dose escalation decisions to further cohorts of Part 1 will be made based on safety and tolerability profile of the preceding lower dose level.	Drug: Placebo; Participants will receive matching placebo.; Drug: (S)-ketamine Oral Thin Film; (S)-ketamine OTF sublingual formulation at a dose of 7 mg, 14 mg, and 28 mg will be administered in sequential cohorts.; Other Names: JNJ-54135419; Drug: (S)-ketamine IV Infusion; (S)-ketamine IV solution will be infused at a dose of less than or equal to 14mg.; Other Names: Ketanest
Experimental: Part 2: IV Different Infusion Duration; Participants will receive single dose (S)-ketamine less than or equal to (<=)14 mg IV at a different infusion duration or matching placebo at a different infusion duration. The infusion duration and dose will be chosen after completion of Part 1.	Drug: Placebo; Participants will receive matching placebo.; Drug: (S)-ketamine IV Infusion; (S)-ketamine IV solution will be infused at a dose of less than or equal to 14mg.; Other Names: Ketanest

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Part 1: Change from Baseline in Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) Total Score	CADSS is an instrument for the measurement of present-state dissociative symptoms and will be administered to assess treatment-emergent dissociative symptoms. CADSS consists of 23 subjective items, divided into 3 components: depersonalization (items 3 to 7, 20, and 23), derealization (items 1, 2, 8 to 13, 16 to 19, and 21) and amnesia (items 14, 15, and 22). The participants responses are coded on a 5-point scale (from 0=not at all to 4=extremely). The total score is sum of the 23 items and range from 0 to 92 - best is 0 and worst is 92.	Baseline up to Day 1
Part 2: Change from Baseline in CADSS Total Score	CADSS is an instrument for the measurement of present-state dissociative symptoms and will be administered to assess treatment-emergent dissociative symptoms. CADSS consists of 23 subjective items, divided into 3 components: depersonalization (items 3 to 7, 20, and 23), derealization (items 1, 2, 8 to 13, 16 to 19, and 21) and amnesia (items 14, 15, and 22). The participants responses are coded on a 5-point scale (from 0=not at all to 4=extremely). The total score is sum of the 23 items and range from 0 to 92 - best is 0 and worst is 92.	Baseline up to Day 1
Part 1: Number of Participants with Vital Sign Abnormalities	Number of participants with vital signs (Heart Rate and Blood Pressure) abnormalities will be reported.	Up to Day 2
Part 2: Number of Participants with Vital Sign Abnormalities	Number of participants with vital signs (Heart Rate and Blood Pressure) abnormalities will be reported.	Up to Day 2
Plasma Concentrations of (S)-ketamine	Observed plasma concentrations of (S)-ketamine will be reported.	Part 1: Predose, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 40 min, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hour postdose; Part 2: predose, 15, 30 min, 1, 1.6, 2, 3, 3.5, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 hours postdose
Plasma Concentrations of Nor(S)-ketamine	Observed plasma concentrations of Nor(S)-ketamine will be reported.	Part 1: Predose, 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 40 min, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hour postdose; Part 2: predose, 15, 30 min, 1, 1.6, 2, 3, 3.5, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 24 hours postdose
Part 1: Change from Baseline in Electroencephalogram (EEG) Power	EEG power spectral activity in the alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, beta 2, delta, theta and gamma frequency bands will be estimated for the baseline EEG recording and will be compared to the EEG power spectral activity in the same frequency bands.	Predose (Baseline) and 2.25 hours postdose
Part 2: Change from Baseline in EEG Power	EEG power spectral activity in the alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, beta 2, delta, theta and gamma frequency bands will be estimated for the baseline EEG recording and will be compared to the EEG power spectral activity in the same frequency bands.	Predose (Baseline) and 3.25 hours postdose
Part 1: Change from Baseline in Continuous Paired Associate Learning Test (cPALT) Score	The cPALT will be used to assess whether drug will improve performance of complex cognitive tasks. CPAL assesses Visual episodic memory (associate learning) cognitive domain. In this task, participants must learn a series of associations between a set of difficult to verbalize patterns (amoeba) and locations. In participants, 14 pattern/location associations must be learned. In the presentation phase of the task the pattern appears at the location and the participant is required to acknowledge that they have seen the pattern by touching the location at which it appears. Patterns are presented in random order. In the learning phase of the task, participants must place each of the 14 patterns in their correct locations. They must do this in 10 rounds. The outcome is number of errors made in correctly placing each of the four patterns in their location four times (Lower score = better performance).	Baseline up to Day 1
Part 2: Change from Baseline in cPALT Score	The cPALT will be used to assess whether drug will improve performance of complex cognitive tasks. CPAL assesses Visual episodic memory (associate learning) cognitive domain. In this task, participants must learn a series of associations between a set of difficult to verbalize patterns (amoeba) and locations. In participants, 14 pattern/location associations must be learned. In the presentation phase of the task the pattern appears at the location and the participant is required to acknowledge that they have seen the pattern by touching the location at which it appears. Patterns are presented in random order. In the learning phase of the task, participants must place each of the 14 patterns in their correct locations. They must do this in 10 rounds. The outcome is number of errors made in correctly placing each of the four patterns in their location four times (Lower score = better performance).	Baseline up to Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Janssen Research & Development, LLC
• Investigators: Study Director: Janssen Research & Development, LLC Clinical Trial, Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 20, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 4, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): September 4, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 4, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 16, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): January 17, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 27, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 25, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Anesthetics; Central Nervous System Depressants; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics; Neurotransmitter Agents; Psychotropic Drugs; Anesthetics, Intravenous; Anesthetics, General; Antidepressive Agents; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; Anesthetics, Dissociative; Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; Esketamine; Ketamine
• Other Study ID Numbers: CR108553; 2018-003435-30 (EudraCT Number); 54135419EDI1001 (Other Identifier: Janssen Research & Development, LLC)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES

IPD Plan Description

The data sharing policy of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson is available at www.janssen.com/clinical-trials/transparency.

As noted on this site, requests for access to the study data can be submitted through Yale Open Data Access (YODA) Project site at yoda.yale.edu

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No