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

NCT02418585 | Completed Phase 3 Results DMC

• 3 other identifiers: CR107147ESKETINTRD30022014-004585-22
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 236
• Locations: 5 countries
• Sites: 48

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of switching treatment-resistant depression (TRD) subjects 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.

Conditions

Treatment-resistant Depression

Keywords

Treatment-resistant Depression; Esketamine; Placebo; Oral Antidepressant

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change From Baseline in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score up to Day 28 in the Double-blind Induction Phase- Mixed-Effects Model Using Repeated Measures (MMRM) Analysis

  MADRS is clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity, and to detect changes due to antidepressant treatment. Scale consists of 10 items (apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, sleep, appetite, concentration, lassitude, interest level, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts), each of which is scored from 0 (item is not present or is normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of symptoms), summed for a total possible score of 0 to 60. Higher scores represent more severe condition.

  Baseline up to Day 28 of Double-blind Induction Phase

• Change From Baseline in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score up to Endpoint (Double-blind Induction Phase [Day 28])- Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) Analysis

  MADRS is clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity, and to detect changes due to antidepressant treatment. Scale consists of 10 items (apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, sleep, appetite, concentration, lassitude, interest level, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts), each of which is scored from 0 (item is not present or is normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of symptoms), summed for a total possible score of 0 to 60. Higher scores represent more severe condition. The last post baseline observation during the phase was carried forward as "End Point" for that phase.

  Baseline up to Endpoint (Double-blind Induction Phase [Day 28])

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• Percentage of Participants With Onset of Clinical Response on Day 2 and Day 8

  Day 2 up to Day 28 and Day 8 up to Day 28

• Change From Baseline in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Total Score up to Day 28 of Double-blind Induction Phase- MMRM Analysis

  Baseline up to Day 28 of Double-blind Induction phase

• Change From Baseline in Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Total Score up to Endpoint (Double-blind Induction Phase [Day 28])- ANCOVA Analysis

  Baseline up to Endpoint (Double-blind Induction Phase [Day 28])

• Change From Baseline in Patient Health Questionnaire - 9-Item Depression Module (PHQ-9) Total Score up to Day 28 of Double-blind Induction Phase- MMRM Analysis

  Baseline up to Day 28 of Double-blind Induction phase

• Change From Baseline in Patient Health Questionnaire - 9-Item Depression Module (PHQ-9) Total Score up to Endpoint (Double-blind Induction Phase [Day 28])- ANCOVA Analysis

  Baseline up to Endpoint (Double-blind Induction Phase [Day 28])

Study Arms (2)

Intranasal Esketamine plus oral antidepressant

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will self-administer esketamine intranasally twice per week for 4 weeks as a flexible dose regimen in the Double-Blind Induction Phase. All participants will start at a dose of 56 mg on Day 1. On Day 4, the dose may be increased to 84 mg or remain at 56 mg per investigator's discretion. On Days 8 and 11 the dose may be increased to 84 mg (from 56 mg), remain same, or be reduced to 56 mg (from 84 mg) per investigator's discretion. On Day 15, a dose reduction from 84 mg to 56 mg is permitted, if required for tolerability; no dose increase permitted. After Day 15, dose must remain stable (unchanged). In addition participants will simultaneously initiate a new, open-label oral antidepressant (duloxetine, escitalopram, sertraline, or venlafaxine extended release \[XR\]) on Day 1 that will be continued for the duration of Double-Blind Induction Phase.

Drug: Esketamine; Drug: Duloxetine (Oral Antidepressant); Drug: Escitalopram (Oral antidepressant); Drug: Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant); Drug: Venlafaxine Extended Release (XR) (Oral Antidepressant)

Placebo plus oral antidepressant

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Drug: Placebo; Drug: Duloxetine (Oral Antidepressant); Drug: Escitalopram (Oral antidepressant); Drug: Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant); Drug: Venlafaxine Extended Release (XR) (Oral Antidepressant)

Interventions

Esketamine DRUG

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

Intranasal Esketamine plus oral antidepressant

Placebo DRUG

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

Placebo plus oral antidepressant

Duloxetine (Oral Antidepressant) 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).

Intranasal Esketamine plus oral antidepressant; Placebo plus oral antidepressant

Escitalopram (Oral antidepressant) 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 upto a dose of 20 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 10 mg/day.

Intranasal Esketamine plus oral antidepressant; Placebo plus oral antidepressant

Sertraline (Oral Antidepressant) 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 upto a dose of 150 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 50 mg/day.

Intranasal Esketamine plus oral antidepressant; Placebo plus oral antidepressant

Venlafaxine Extended Release (XR) (Oral Antidepressant) 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 upto a dose of 225 mg/day, but if not tolerated the dose can be reduced to the minimum therapeutic dose of 150 mg/day.

Intranasal Esketamine plus oral antidepressant; Placebo plus oral antidepressant

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 64 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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, participant must have had non-response (greater 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 in the current episode of depression, 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. In addition, the 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

You may not qualify if:

• 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 (ie, 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 psychosis, bipolar or related disorders (confirmed by the MINI), comorbid obsessive compulsive disorder, intellectual disability (DSM-5 diagnostic codes 317, 318.0, 318.1, 318.2, 315.8, and 319), 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Janssen Research & Development, LLC: lead

Study Sites (48)

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Birmingham, Alabama, United States

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Orange, California, United States

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San Rafael, California, United States

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Maitland, Florida, United States

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Atlanta, Georgia, United States

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Chicago, Illinois, United States

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Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States

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Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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Dallas, Texas, United States

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Klecany, Czechia

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Litoměřice, Czechia

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Pilsen, Czechia

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Prague, Czechia

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Přerov, Czechia

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Berlin, Germany

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Cham, Germany

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Dresden, Germany

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Gelsenkirchen, Germany

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Halle, Germany

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Leipzig, Germany

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Mainz, Germany

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Mannheim, Germany

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Mittweida, Germany

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Pfaffenhofen, Germany

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Prien am Chiemsee, Germany

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Tübingen, Germany

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Bialystok, Poland

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Bydgoszcz, Poland

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Gdansk, Poland

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Krakow, Poland

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Mysłowice, Poland

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Pruszków, Poland

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Torun, Poland

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Tuszyn, Poland

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Warsaw, Poland

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Alcorcón, Spain

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Barcelona, Spain

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Córdoba, Spain

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Málaga, Spain

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Móstoles, Spain

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Murcia, Spain

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Palma, Spain

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Pamplona, Spain

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Sabadell, Spain

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Salamanca, Spain

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Santa Coloma de Gramanet, Spain

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Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

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Related Publications (16)

• Kaster TS, Dai Y, Vila-Rodriguez F, Downar J, Daskalakis ZJ, Blumberger DM, Rhee TG. Efficacy of intranasal esketamine versus rTMS for treatment-resistant depression: analysis of individual participant data from two clinical trials. EClinicalMedicine. 2025 Oct 30;90:103609. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103609. eCollection 2025 Dec.

  PMID: 41245530 DERIVED

• Kern Sliwa J, Naranjo RR Jr, Turkoz I, Petrillo MP, Cabrera P, Trivedi M. Effects of esketamine nasal spray on depressive symptom severity in adults with treatment-resistant depression and associations between the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. CNS Spectr. 2024 Jun;29(3):176-186. doi: 10.1017/S1092852924000105. Epub 2024 Apr 1.

  PMID: 38557430 DERIVED

• Jamieson C, Popova V, Daly E, Cooper K, Drevets WC, Rozjabek HM, Singh J. Assessment of health-related quality of life and health status in patients with treatment-resistant depression treated with esketamine nasal spray plus an oral antidepressant. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2023 May 8;21(1):40. doi: 10.1186/s12955-023-02113-1.

  PMID: 37158911 DERIVED

• Turkoz I, Nelson JC, Wilkinson ST, Borentain S, Macaluso M, Trivedi MH, Williamson D, Sheehan JJ, Salvadore G, Singh J, Daly E. Predictors of response and remission in patients with treatment-resistant depression: A post hoc pooled analysis of two acute trials of esketamine nasal spray. Psychiatry Res. 2023 May;323:115165. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115165. Epub 2023 Mar 16.

  PMID: 37019044 DERIVED

• Jha MK, Williamson DJ, Magharehabed G, Turkoz I, Daly EJ, Trivedi MH. Intranasal esketamine effectively treats treatment-resistant depression in adults regardless of baseline irritability. J Affect Disord. 2023 Jan 15;321:153-160. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.10.020. Epub 2022 Oct 20.

  PMID: 36273682 DERIVED

• Floden L, Hudgens S, Jamieson C, Popova V, Drevets WC, Cooper K, Singh J. Evaluation of Individual Items of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) in Adults with Treatment-Resistant Depression Treated with Esketamine Nasal Spray Combined with a New Oral Antidepressant. CNS Drugs. 2022 Jun;36(6):649-658. doi: 10.1007/s40263-022-00916-2. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

  PMID: 35441931 DERIVED

• Chen G, Chen L, Zhang Y, Li X, Lane R, Lim P, Daly EJ, Furey ML, Fedgchin M, Popova V, Singh JB, Drevets WC. Relationship Between Dissociation and Antidepressant Effects of Esketamine Nasal Spray in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2022 Apr 19;25(4):269-279. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyab084.

  PMID: 35022754 DERIVED

• Jones RR, Freeman MP, Kornstein SG, Cooper K, Daly EJ, Canuso CM, Nicholson S. Efficacy and safety of esketamine nasal spray by sex in patients with treatment-resistant depression: findings from short-term randomized, controlled trials. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2022 Apr;25(2):313-326. doi: 10.1007/s00737-021-01185-6. Epub 2022 Jan 1.

  PMID: 34973081 DERIVED

• Dean RL, Hurducas C, Hawton K, Spyridi S, Cowen PJ, Hollingsworth S, Marquardt T, Barnes A, Smith R, McShane R, Turner EH, Cipriani A. Ketamine and other glutamate receptor modulators for depression in adults with unipolar major depressive disorder. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Sep 12;9(9):CD011612. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011612.pub3.

  PMID: 34510411 DERIVED

• Daly EJ, Turkoz I, Salvadore G, Fedgchin M, Ionescu DF, Starr HL, Borentain S, Trivedi MH, Thase ME, Singh JB. The effect of esketamine in patients with treatment-resistant depression with and without comorbid anxiety symptoms or disorder. Depress Anxiety. 2021 Nov;38(11):1120-1130. doi: 10.1002/da.23193. Epub 2021 Jul 22.

  PMID: 34293233 DERIVED

• Turkoz I, Daly E, Singh J, Lin X, Tymofyeyev Y, Williamson D, Salvadore G, Nash AI, Macaluso M, Wilkinson ST, Nelson JC. Treatment Response With Esketamine Nasal Spray Plus an Oral Antidepressant in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Depression Without Evidence of Early Response: A Pooled Post Hoc Analysis of the TRANSFORM Studies. J Clin Psychiatry. 2021 Jul 20;82(4):20m13800. doi: 10.4088/JCP.20m13800.

  PMID: 34288609 DERIVED

• Doty RL, Popova V, Wylie C, Fedgchin M, Daly E, Janik A, Ochs-Ross R, Lane R, Lim P, Cooper K, Melkote R, Jamieson C, Singh J, Drevets WC. Effect of Esketamine Nasal Spray on Olfactory Function and Nasal Tolerability in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression: Results from Four Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Studies. CNS Drugs. 2021 Jul;35(7):781-794. doi: 10.1007/s40263-021-00826-9. Epub 2021 Jul 7.

  PMID: 34235612 DERIVED

• Perez-Ruixo C, Rossenu S, Zannikos P, Nandy P, Singh J, Drevets WC, Perez-Ruixo JJ. Population Pharmacokinetics of Esketamine Nasal Spray and its Metabolite Noresketamine in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2021 Apr;60(4):501-516. doi: 10.1007/s40262-020-00953-4. Epub 2020 Oct 31.

  PMID: 33128208 DERIVED

• Katz EG, Hough D, Doherty T, Lane R, Singh J, Levitan B. Benefit-Risk Assessment of Esketamine Nasal Spray vs. Placebo in Treatment-Resistant Depression. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2021 Feb;109(2):536-546. doi: 10.1002/cpt.2024. Epub 2020 Oct 13.

  PMID: 32860422 DERIVED

• Saad Z, Hibar D, Fedgchin M, Popova V, Furey ML, Singh JB, Kolb H, Drevets WC, Chen G. Effects of Mu-Opiate Receptor Gene Polymorphism rs1799971 (A118G) on the Antidepressant and Dissociation Responses in Esketamine Nasal Spray Clinical Trials. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2020 Dec 3;23(9):549-558. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyaa030.

  PMID: 32367114 DERIVED

• Popova V, Daly EJ, Trivedi M, Cooper K, Lane R, Lim P, Mazzucco C, Hough D, Thase ME, Shelton RC, Molero P, Vieta E, Bajbouj M, Manji H, Drevets WC, Singh JB. Efficacy and Safety of Flexibly Dosed Esketamine Nasal Spray Combined With a Newly Initiated Oral Antidepressant in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Double-Blind Active-Controlled Study. Am J Psychiatry. 2019 Jun 1;176(6):428-438. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19020172. Epub 2019 May 21.

  PMID: 31109201 DERIVED

Related Links

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

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant

Interventions

Esketamine; Duloxetine Hydrochloride; Antidepressive Agents; Escitalopram; Sertraline

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Thiophenes; Sulfur Compounds; Organic Chemicals; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Psychotropic Drugs; Central Nervous System Agents; Therapeutic Uses; Pharmacologic Actions; Chemical Actions and Uses; Propylamines; Amines; Nitriles; Benzofurans; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; 1-Naphthylamine; Naphthalenes; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Compounds

Limitations and Caveats

As this was a flexible-dose study, dose-response relationships could not be evaluated because direct comparisons between dose groups could not be made.

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Senior Director
• Organization: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

ClinicalTrialDisclosure@its.jnj.com

844-434-4210

Study Officials

• Janssen Research & Development, LLC Clinical Trial

  Janssen Research & Development, LLC

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restriction Type: OTHER
• Restrictive Agreement: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 3
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 13, 2015
• First Posted: April 16, 2015
• Study Start: August 7, 2015
• Primary Completion: June 1, 2017
• Study Completion: November 6, 2017
• Last Updated: April 29, 2025
• Results First Posted: April 19, 2019

Record last verified: 2025-04

Locations

DE (12); CZ (5); ES (12); US (10); PL (9)