A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Fixed Doses of Intranasal Esketamine Plus an Oral Antidepressant in Adult Participants With Treatment-resistant Depression

NCT ID: NCT02417064

Last Updated: 2025-04-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE3
• Total Enrollment: 346 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2015-08-10
• Study Completion Date: 2018-02-20

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of switching treatment-resistant depression (TRD) participants from a prior antidepressant treatment (to which they have not responded) to either intranasal esketamine plus a new oral antidepressant or switching to a new oral antidepressant plus intranasal placebo.

Detailed Description

This is a randomized, double-blind (neither the researchers nor the participants know what treatment the participant is receiving), active-controlled, multicenter study (more than 1 study site) in participants with TRD to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of fixed doses of intranasal esketamine plus a newly initiated oral antidepressant compared with a newly initiated oral antidepressant (active comparator) plus intranasal placebo. The study will consist of 3 phases: Screening/Prospective Observational Phase (4-7 weeks), Double-blind Induction Phase (4-weeks), Follow-up Phase (24-weeks). Participants who rollover into a long-term maintenance study will not participate in the Follow-up Phase. At the start of the screening/prospective observational phase, the participant must have had documented non-response to at least 1 antidepressant treatment (based on Massachusetts General Hospital - Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnair [MGH-ATRQ]) in the current episode of depression, and participant is taking a different oral antidepressant treatment on the MGH-ATRQ for at least the previous 2 weeks at or above the minimum therapeutic dose. This antidepressant treatment, as well as any other ongoing medications being taken for depression at screening (including adjunctive/ augmentation therapies), will continue from the start of Week 1 through the end of Week 4 of the screening/prospective observational phase. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive Intranasal esketamine (56 milligrams [mg]), Intranasal esketamine (84 mg), or Intranasal placebo. In addition, each participant will be assigned to receive 1 of 4 oral antidepressant medications from 2 different classes of antidepressant treatments, a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) (escitalopram or sertraline) or a Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) (duloxetine or venlafaxine extended release [XR]), initiated on Day 1 and continued through the double-blind induction phase. Participants will be primarily evaluated for improvement in depressive symptoms as assessed by change in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score at Week 4. Participants' safety will be monitored throughout the study.

Conditions

Treatment-resistant Depression

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Intranasal Esketamine 84mg plus Oral Antidepressant

As part of an initial titration, participants will self-administer 56 milligrams (mg) of esketamine intranasally on Day 1, and then 84 mg from Day 4 onwards, twice per week for 4 weeks as a fixed dose regimen in Double-Blind Induction Phase. In addition participants will simultaneously initiate a new, open-label oral antidepressant (i.e, duloxetine, escitalopram, sertraline, or venlafaxine extended release \[XR\]) on Day 1 that will be continued for the duration of Double-Blind Induction Phase.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Esketamine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Participants will self-administer either 84 mg or 56 mg of esketamine, intranasally, twice per week for 4 weeks as a fixed dose regimen in Double-Blind Induction Phase.

Duloxetine (Oral Antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Duloxetine could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of Massachusetts General Hospital - Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire (MGH-ATRQ) and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. The minimum therapeutic dose is 60 milligram per day (mg/day).

Escitalopram (Oral antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Escitalopram could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Escitalopram will be titrated up to a dose of 20 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 10 mg/day.

Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Sertraline could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Sertraline will be titrated up to a dose of 200 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 50 mg/day.

Venlafaxine Extended Release (XR) (Oral Antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Venlafaxine Extended Release could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Venlafaxine Extended Release will be titrated up to a dose of 225 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 150 mg/day.

Esketamine 56 mg plus Oral Antidepressant

Starting from Day 1, participants will self-administer 56 mg of esketamine, intranasally, twice per week for 4 weeks as a fixed dose regimen in Double-Blind Induction Phase. In addition participants will simultaneously initiate a new, open-label oral antidepressant (i.e, duloxetine, escitalopram, sertraline, or venlafaxine XR) on Day 1 that will be continued for the duration of Double-Blind Induction Phase.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Esketamine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Participants will self-administer either 84 mg or 56 mg of esketamine, intranasally, twice per week for 4 weeks as a fixed dose regimen in Double-Blind Induction Phase.

Duloxetine (Oral Antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Duloxetine could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of Massachusetts General Hospital - Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire (MGH-ATRQ) and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. The minimum therapeutic dose is 60 milligram per day (mg/day).

Escitalopram (Oral antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Escitalopram could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Escitalopram will be titrated up to a dose of 20 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 10 mg/day.

Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Sertraline could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Sertraline will be titrated up to a dose of 200 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 50 mg/day.

Venlafaxine Extended Release (XR) (Oral Antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Venlafaxine Extended Release could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Venlafaxine Extended Release will be titrated up to a dose of 225 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 150 mg/day.

Placebo plus Oral Antidepressant

Participants will self-administer matching placebo, intranasally, twice per week for 4 weeks as a fixed dose regimen in Double-Blind Induction Phase. In addition participants will simultaneously initiate a new, open-label oral antidepressant (i.e, duloxetine, escitalopram, sertraline, or venlafaxine XR) on Day 1 that will be continued for the duration of Double-Blind Induction Phase.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: DRUG

Participants will self-administer matching placebo, intranasally, twice per week for 4 weeks as a fixed dose regimen in Double-Blind Induction Phase.

Duloxetine (Oral Antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Duloxetine could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of Massachusetts General Hospital - Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire (MGH-ATRQ) and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. The minimum therapeutic dose is 60 milligram per day (mg/day).

Escitalopram (Oral antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Escitalopram could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Escitalopram will be titrated up to a dose of 20 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 10 mg/day.

Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Sertraline could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Sertraline will be titrated up to a dose of 200 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 50 mg/day.

Venlafaxine Extended Release (XR) (Oral Antidepressant)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Venlafaxine Extended Release could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Venlafaxine Extended Release will be titrated up to a dose of 225 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 150 mg/day.

Interventions

Esketamine

Participants will self-administer either 84 mg or 56 mg of esketamine, intranasally, twice per week for 4 weeks as a fixed dose regimen in Double-Blind Induction Phase.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo

Participants will self-administer matching placebo, intranasally, twice per week for 4 weeks as a fixed dose regimen in Double-Blind Induction Phase.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Duloxetine (Oral Antidepressant)

Duloxetine could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of Massachusetts General Hospital - Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire (MGH-ATRQ) and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. The minimum therapeutic dose is 60 milligram per day (mg/day).

Intervention Type: DRUG

Escitalopram (Oral antidepressant)

Escitalopram could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Escitalopram will be titrated up to a dose of 20 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 10 mg/day.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant)

Sertraline could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Sertraline will be titrated up to a dose of 200 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 50 mg/day.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Venlafaxine Extended Release (XR) (Oral Antidepressant)

Venlafaxine Extended Release could be selected as the oral antidepressant medication by the investigator based on review of MGH-ATRQ and relevant prior antidepressant medication information. Venlafaxine Extended Release will be titrated up to a dose of 225 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 150 mg/day.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• At the time of signing the informed consent form (ICF), participant must be a man or woman 18 (or older if the minimum legal age of consent in the country in which the study is taking place is greater than [>]18) to 64 years of age, inclusive
• At the start of the screening/prospective observational phase, participant must meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for single-episode major depressive disorder (MDD) (if single-episode MDD, the duration must be greater than or equal to [>=] 2 years) or recurrent MDD, without psychotic features, based upon clinical assessment and confirmed by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)
• At the start of the screening/prospective observational phase, participant must have an Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician rated ( IDS-C30) total score of greater than or equal to (>=) 34
• At the start of the screening/prospective observational phase, participants must have had non-response (less than or equal to [<=25] percent [%] improvement) to >=1 but less than or equal to (<=) 5 (if current episode is >2 years, upper limit is applicable to only the last 2 years) oral antidepressant treatments taken at adequate dosage and for adequate duration, as assessed using the Massachusetts General Hospital - Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire (MGH-ATRQ) and documented by medical history and pharmacy/prescription records, for the current episode of depression.

Participant is taking a different oral antidepressant treatment on the MGH-ATRQ for at least the previous 2 weeks at or above the minimum therapeutic dose

• The participant's current major depressive episode, depression symptom severity (Week 1 MADRS total score >=28 required), and antidepressant treatment response in the current depressive episode, must be confirmed using a Site Independent Qualification Assessment

Exclusion Criteria

• Participants who have previously demonstrated nonresponse of depressive symptoms to esketamine or ketamine in the current major depressive episode, to all 4 of the oral antidepressant treatment options available for the double-blind induction phase (i.e, duloxetine, escitalopram, sertraline, and venlafaxine extended release [XR]) in the current major depressive episode (based on MGH-ATRQ), or an adequate course of treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the current major depressive episode, defined as at least 7 treatments with unilateral/bilateral ECT
• Participant has received vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) or has received deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the current episode of depression
• Participant has a current or prior DSM-5 diagnosis of a psychotic disorder or MDD with psychotic features bipolar or related disorders (confirmed by the MINI), obsessive compulsive disorder (current only), intellectual disability (DSM-5 diagnostic codes 317, 318.0, 318.1, 318.2, 315.8, and 319), autism spectrum disorder, borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, or narcissistic personality disorder
• Participant has homicidal ideation/intent, per the investigator's clinical judgment, or has suicidal ideation with some intent to act within 6 months prior to the start of the screening/prospective observational phase, per the investigator's clinical judgment or based on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
• Participants with history of moderate or severe substance or alcohol use disorder according to DSM-5 criteria

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 64 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Janssen Research & Development, LLC Clinical Trial

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Locations

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Garden Grove, California, United States

Orange, California, United States

San Diego, California, United States

San Marcos, California, United States

San Rafael, California, United States

Bradenton, Florida, United States

Miami, Florida, United States

Orlando, Florida, United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States

Maywood, Illinois, United States

Schaumburg, Illinois, United States

Wichita, Kansas, United States

Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Quincy, Massachusetts, United States

Watertown, Massachusetts, United States

Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

O'Fallon, Missouri, United States

Saint Charles, Missouri, United States

Omaha, Nebraska, United States

New York, New York, United States

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Dayton, Ohio, United States

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States

Media, Pennsylvania, United States

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Lincoln, Rhode Island, United States

Austin, Texas, United States

Dallas, Texas, United States

Houston, Texas, United States

Woodstock, Vermont, United States

Bothell, Washington, United States

Middleton, Wisconsin, United States

Aalst, , Belgium

Bruges, , Belgium

Brussels, , Belgium

Ghent, , Belgium

Hasselt, , Belgium

Heusden-Zolder, , Belgium

Liège, , Belgium

Spa, , Belgium

Yvoir, , Belgium

Belo Horizonte, , Brazil

Curitiba, , Brazil

Fortaleza, , Brazil

Passo Fundo, , Brazil

Porto Alegre, , Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, , Brazil

Santo André, , Brazil

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Pärnu, , Estonia

Tallinn, , Estonia

Tartu, , Estonia

Besançon, , France

Clermont-Ferrand, , France

Douai, , France

Issy-les-Moulineaux, , France

La Tronche, , France

Lille, , France

Limoges, , France

Montpellier, , France

Nantes, , France

Neuilly-sur-Marne, , France

Nîmes, , France

Paris, , France

Poitiers, , France

Toulon, , France

Tours, , France

Budapest, , Hungary

Vác, , Hungary

Guadalajara, , Mexico

León, , Mexico

Mazatlán, , Mexico

Mexico City, , Mexico

Monterrey, , Mexico

San Luis Potosí City, , Mexico

Bratislava, , Slovakia

Liptovský Mikuláš, , Slovakia

Rimavská Sobota, , Slovakia

Rožňava, , Slovakia

Svidník, , Slovakia

Countries

United States; Belgium; Brazil; Canada; Estonia; France; Hungary; Mexico; Slovakia

References

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Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Related Links

https://filehosting-v2.pharmacm.com/api/Attachment/Download?tenantId=80217051&amp;parentIdentifier=CR107146&amp;attachmentIdentifier=0cb41e2c-8076-43c1-8eb1-ae4e9fe0b016&amp;fileName=ESKETINTRD3001_(CR107146)_Additional_Results_Data_CH.pdf&amp;versionIdentifier=

A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter, Active-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Fixed Doses of Intranasal Esketamine Plus an Oral Antidepressant in Adult Subjects with Treatment-resistant Depression

Other Identifiers

ESKETINTRD3001

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2014-004584-20

Identifier Type: EUDRACT_NUMBER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

CR107146

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id