Clinical Trial: A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Intranasal Esketamine Plus an Oral Antidepressant in Elderly Participants With Treatment-resistant Depression

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter, Active-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Intranasal Esketamine Plus an Oral Antidepressant in Elderly Subjects With

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of switching elderly participants with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) 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 Summary: 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 elderly participants with TRD to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of flexible 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 to 7 weeks), Double-blind induction Phase (4 weeks), Follow up Phase (2 weeks). Participants who rollover into a long-term open-label safety study will not participate in the Follow-up Phase. At the start of the Screening/Prospective observational Phase, participant must have had documented nonresponse to at least one antidepressant treatment (based on Massachusetts General Hospital - Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire [MGH-ATRQ] criteria) in the current episode of depression, and 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. This antidepressant treatment will be discontinued prior to the double-blind induction Phase. Participants taking benzodiazepines (at dosages equal to or less than the equivalent of 6 mg/day of lorazepam) and/or permitted non-benzodiazepine sleep medications (example, zolpidem, zaleplon) during the screening/prospective observational phase can continue these medications. All participants will start with first dose (Day 1 as 28 milligram [mg]); second dose (Day 4) is either 28 or 56 mg. All subsequent doses may be 28, 56 or 84 mg. After the first dose, all dosing decisions are determined by the investigator based on efficacy and tolerability. In addition, each participant will be assigned to receive 1 of 4 oral antidepressant medications from 2 different classes of antidepressant treatments,
Sponsor: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Current Primary Outcome: Change From Baseline in Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score at end of Double-Blind Induction Phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]

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


Original Primary Outcome: Change From Baseline in Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score at end of Double-Blind Induction Phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]

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


Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Change From Baseline in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Score at end of Double-Blind Induction Phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]
    The CGI-S evaluates the severity of psychopathology on a scale of 0 to 7. Considering total clinical experience, a participant is assessed on severity of mental illness at the time of rating according to: 0=not assessed; 1=normal (not at all ill); 2=borderline mentally ill; 3=mildly ill; 4=moderately ill; 5=markedly ill; 6=severely ill; 7=among the most extremely ill participants. The CGI-S permits a global evaluation of the participant's condition at a given time.
  • Change From Baseline in Subject-Reported Health-related Quality of Life and Health Status as Assessed by EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) at end of Double-Blind Induction Phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]
    The EQ-5D-5L is a standardized instrument for use as a measure of health outcome, primarily designed for self-completion by respondents. It consists of the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). The EQ-5D-5L descriptive system comprises the following 5 dimensions: Mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each of the 5 dimensions is divided into 5 levels of perceived problems (Level 1 indicating no problem, Level 2 indicating slight problems, Level 3 indicating moderate problems, Level 4 indicating severe problems, and Level 5 indicating extreme problems). The participant selects an answer for each of the 5 dimensions considering the response that best matches his or her health "today." The descriptive system can be represented as a health state. The EQ-VAS self-rating records the respondent's own assessment of his or her overall health status at the time of completion, on a scale of 0 to 100.
  • Number of Participants with Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious AEs [ Time Frame: Screening up to end of Follow-up Phase (approximately up to 13 Weeks) ]
    An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant who received study drug without regard to possibility of causal relationship. A serious adverse event (SAE) is an AE resulting in any of the following outcomes or deemed significant for any other reason: death; initial or prolonged inpatient hospitalization; life-threatening experience (at risk of death at the time of the event); persistent or significant disability/incapacity (is a suspected transmission of any infectious agent via a medicinal product); congenital anomaly (is medically important based on medical and scientific judgment).
  • Percentage of participants with Response (>=50% reduction from baseline in MADRS total score) at the end of Double-Blind induction phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]
    Percentage of participants with response which is defined as 50% reduction from baseline in MADRS total score at the end of Double-Blind induction phase will be reported.
  • Percentage of participants in remission (MADRS <=12) at the end of Double-Blind induction phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]
    Percentage of participants in remission which is defined as MADRS total score <=12 at the end of Double-Blind induction phase.


Original Secondary Outcome:

  • Change From Baseline in Subject-reported Depressive Symptoms Using the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9) Total Score at end of Double-Blind Induction Phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]
    The PHQ-9 is a 9-item scale used to assess depressive symptoms. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale (0=not at all, 1=several days, 2=more than half the days, and 3=nearly every day). The responses for each item are summed to provide a total score (range of 0 to 27) with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms.
  • Change From Baseline in Subject-reported Functioning and Associated Disability as Assessed by the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Total Score at end of Double-Blind Induction Phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]
    The SDS is a subject-reported outcome measure and is a 5-item questionnaire which has been widely used and accepted for assessment of functional impairment and associated disability. The first three items assess disruption of (1) work/school, (2) social life, and (3) family life/home responsibilities using a 0-10 rating scale. The score for the first three items are summed to create a total score of 0-30 where a higher score indicates greater impairment.
  • Change From Baseline in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Score at end of Double-Blind Induction Phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]
    The CGI-S evaluates the severity of psychopathology on a scale of 0 to 7. Considering total clinical experience, a participant is assessed on severity of mental illness at the time of rating according to: 0=not assessed; 1=normal (not at all ill); 2=borderline mentally ill; 3=mildly ill; 4=moderately ill; 5=markedly ill; 6=severely ill; 7=among the most extremely ill participants. The CGI-S permits a global evaluation of the participant's condition at a given time.
  • Change From Baseline in Subject-Reported Health-related Quality of Life and Health Status as Assessed by EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (EQ-5D-5L) at end of Double-Blind Induction Phase [ Time Frame: Baseline and End of Double-blind Induction Phase (Week 4) ]
    The EQ-5D-5L is a standardized instrument for use as a measure of health outcome, primarily designed for self-completion by respondents. It consists of the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). The EQ-5D-5L descriptive system comprises the following 5 dimensions: Mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each of the 5 dimensions is divided into 5 levels of perceived problems (Level 1 indicating no problem, Level 2 indicating slight problems, Level 3 indicating moderate problems, Level 4 indicating severe problems, and Level 5 indicating extreme problems). The participant selects an answer for each of the 5 dimensions considering the response that best matches his or her health "today." The descriptive system can be represented as a health state. The EQ-VAS self-rating records the respondent's own assessment of his or her overall health status at the time of completion, on a scale of 0 to 100.
  • Number of Participants with Adverse Events (AEs) and Serious AEs [ Time Frame: Screening up to end of Follow-up Phase (approximately up to 13 Weeks) ]
    An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant who received study drug without regard to possibility of causal relationship. A serious adverse event (SAE) is an AE resulting in any of the following outcomes or deemed significant for any other reason: death; initial or prolonged inpatient hospitalization; life-threatening experience (immediate risk of dying); persistent or significant disability/incapacity; congenital anomaly.


Information By: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Dates:
Date Received: April 16, 2015
Date Started: August 25, 2015
Date Completion: June 26, 2018
Last Updated: May 8, 2017
Last Verified: May 2017