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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03097133

54135419SUI3002: A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Esketamine in Addition to Comprehensive Standard of Care for the Rapid Reduction of the Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder, Including Suicidal Ideation, in Adult Participants Assessed to be at Imminent Risk for Suicide

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of intranasal esketamine 84 milligram (mg) compared with intranasal placebo in addition to comprehensive standard of care in reducing the symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), including suicidal ideation, in participants who are assessed to be at imminent risk for suicide, as measured by the change from baseline on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score at 24 hours post first dose.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–64 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Clínica Privada Banfield S.A, Banfield, Argentina

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About this study

If you or a loved one are having thoughts of suicide, please seek immediate medical help. Go to the emergency room or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participant must meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), without psychotic features, based upon clinical assessment and confirmed by the Mini International Psychiatric Interview (MINI)
  • Participants must have current suicidal ideation with intent, confirmed by a "Yes" response to Question B3 [Think (even momentarily) about harming or of hurting or of injuring yourself: with at least some intent or awareness that you might die as a result; or think about suicide (ie, about killing yourself)?] AND Question B10 [Intend to act on thoughts of killing yourself?] obtained from the MINI
  • In the physician's opinion, acute psychiatric hospitalization is clinically warranted due to participant's imminent risk of suicide
  • Participant has a Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score of greater than (>) 28 predose on Day 1
  • As part of standard of care treatment, participant agrees to be hospitalized voluntarily for a recommended period of 14 days after randomization (may be shorter or longer if clinically warranted in the investigator's opinion) and take prescribed non-investigational antidepressant therapy(ies) for at least the duration of the double-blind treatment phase (Day 25)

Exclusion criteria

  • Participant has a current DSM-5 diagnosis of bipolar (or related disorders), antisocial personality disorder, or obsessive compulsive disorder
  • Participant currently meets DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder. Note: Participant not meeting full DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder but exhibiting recurrent suicidal gestures, threats, or self-mutilating behaviors should also be excluded
  • Participant has a current clinical diagnosis of autism, dementia, or intellectual disability
  • Participant has a current or prior DSM-5 diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, or MDD with psychotic features
  • Participant meets the DSM-5 severity criteria for moderate or severe substance or alcohol use disorder, (except for nicotine or caffeine), within the 12 months before Screening. A history (lifetime) of ketamine, phencyclidine (PCP), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), or 3, 4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) hallucinogen-related use disorder is exclusionary
  • Participant has a history or current signs and symptoms of liver or renal insufficiency, clinically significant cardiac (including unstable coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure, tachyarrhythmias and recent myocardial infarction) or vascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine (including uncontrolled hyperthyroidism), neurologic (including current or past history of seizures except uncomplicated childhood febrile seizures with no sequelae), hematologic, rheumatologic, or metabolic (including severe dehydration/ hypovolemia) disease
  • Participant has known allergies, hypersensitivity, intolerance or contraindications to esketamine or ketamine or its excipients

Treatment and study plan

Esketamine

Drug

Participants will receive intranasal esketamine 84 milligram (mg) two times per week for 4 weeks (Days 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, and 25).

Placebo

Drug

Participants will receive intranasal placebo two times per week for 4 weeks (Days 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, and 25).

Standard of care

Other

The standard of care antidepressant treatment (antidepressant monotherapy or antidepressant plus augmentation therapy) will be determined by the treating physician(s) based on clinical judgement and practice guidelines prior to randomization, and the treatment will be initiated on Day 1.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change From Baseline in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score at 24 Hours Post First Dose (Last Observation Carried Forward [LOCF] Data): Double-blind (DB) Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1, predose) and 24 hours first post dose (Day 2)

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

  2. Change From Baseline in Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Suicidality - Revised (CGI-SS-R) Scale at 24 Hours Post First Dose (LOCF Data): DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1, predose) and 24 hours first post dose (Day 2)

    Clinical global impression-severity of suicidality-revised (CGI-SS-R) scale is revised version of the clinical global impression severity scale (CGI-S),a global rating scale that gives an overall measure of the severity of a participants illness. The CGI-SS-R summarizes the clinician's overall impression of severity of suicidality on a 7-point scale from 0 (normal, not at all suicidal) to 6 (among the most extremely suicidal participants), based on the totality of information available to the clinician. Higher score indicates a more severe condition. Negative change in score indicates improvement.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With Remission of Major Depressive Disorder (MADRS Total Score Less Than or Equal to [<=] 12): DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Days 1 (4 hours [h] postdose), 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25 (predose and 4 hours postdose)

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

  2. Change From Baseline in MADRS Total Score at 4 Hours Post First Dose at Day 1 (4 Hours Post First Dose), and 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1, predose), Days 1 (4 hours postdose), 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25 (predose and 4 hours postdose)

    MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to be used in participants with MDD to measure depression severity and detect changes due to antidepressant treatment. MADRS evaluates apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, sleep, appetite, concentration, lassitude, interest level, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts. The instrument 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 0 to 60. Higher scores represent a more severe condition. Negative change in score indicates improvement.

  3. Change From Baseline in CGI-SS-R Score at 4 Hours Post First Dose at Day 1 (4 Hours Post First Dose), and 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1, predose), Days 1 (4 hours postdose), 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25

    CGI-SS-R is revised version of the CGI-S. The CGI-SS-R summarizes the clinician's overall impression of severity of suicidality on a 7-point scale from 0 (normal, not at all suicidal) to 6 (among the most extremely suicidal participants), based on the totality of information available to the clinician. A higher score indicates a more severe condition. Negative change in score indicates improvement.

  4. Number of Participants Who Achieved Resolution of Suicidality (CGI-SS-R Score of 0 or 1): DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Days 1 (4 hours postdose), 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25

    CGI-SS-R is revised version of the CGI-S. The CGI-SS-R summarizes the clinician's overall impression of severity of suicidality on a 7-point scale from 0 (normal, not at all suicidal) to 6 (among the most extremely suicidal participants), based on the totality of information available to the clinician. Higher score indicates a more severe condition. A participant was considered to have achieved resolution of suicidality at a given time point if the CGI-SS-R score was 0 (normal, not at all suicidal) or 1 (questionably suicidal). Participants who did not met such criterion or discontinued prior to the time point for any reason were not considered to have resolution of suicidality.

  5. Change From Baseline in Clinical Global Impression of Imminent Suicide Risk (CGI-SR-I) at Days 1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline (Day 1, predose), Days 1 (4 hours postdose), 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25

    The CGI-SR-I is a scale summarizing the clinician's best assessment of the likelihood that the participant will attempt suicide in the next 7 days. The CGI-SR-I rating is scored on a 7-point scale: where' 0 (no imminent suicide risk); 1 (minimal imminent suicide risk), 2 (mild imminent suicide risk), 3 (moderate imminent suicide risk), 4 (marked imminent suicide risk), 5 (severely imminent suicide risk), 6 (extreme imminent suicide risk). Higher score indicates a more severe condition. Negative change in score indicates improvement.

  6. Change From Baseline in Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) Total Score at Days 8 and 25 in DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline, Days 8 and 25

    BHS is a self-reported measure to assess one's level of negative expectations or pessimism regarding future. It consists of 20 true-false items that examine respondent's attitude over past week by either endorsing a pessimistic statement or denying an optimistic statement; 9 are keyed false and 11 are keyed true. For every statement, each response was assigned score of 0 or 1. Total BHS score is sum of item responses, ranged from 0-20, where higher score represented higher level of hopelessness.

  7. Change From Baseline in European Quality of Life Group, 5-Dimension, 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) Sum Score at Days 2, 11 and 25 of the DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline, Days 2, 11 and 25

    EQ-5D-5L consists of EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). EQ-5D-5L descriptive system comprises 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each has 5 levels of perceived problems (no problem, slight, moderate, severe and extreme problems). Participant selects answer for each of 5 dimensions considering response that best matches his/her health "today". Responses were used to generate Health Status Index (HSI). HSI ranges from 0 (dead) to 1.00 (full health). EQ-VAS self-rating records respondent's own assessment of his/her overall health status at time of completion, on a scale of 0 (worst imaginable health)-100 (best imaginable health). Sum score ranges from 0 -100. Sum score=(sum of the scores from the 5 dimensions minus 5)*5. Higher score indicates worse health state. Negative change in score indicates improvement.

  8. Change From Baseline in European Quality of Life Group, Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) Score at Days 2, 11 and 25 of the DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline, Days 2, 11 and 25

    EQ-5D-5L is a 2-part instrument for use as a measure of health outcome, designed for self-completion by respondents. It consists of EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and EQ VAS. 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 (the worst health you can imagine) to 100 (the best health you can imagine). Positive change in score indicates improvement.

  9. Change From Baseline in EQ-5D-5L Health Status Index at Days 2, 11 and 25 of the DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline, Days 2, 11 and 25

    EQ-5D-5L is a 2-part instrument for use as a measure of health outcome, designed for self-completion by respondents. It consists of EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and EQ VAS. EQ-5D-5L descriptive system comprises of 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each has 5 levels of perceived problems (1-no problem, 2-slight problems, 3-moderate problems, 4-severe problems, 5-extreme problems). Participant selects answer for each of 5 dimensions considering response that best matches his/her health "today". Responses were used to generate a HSI. HSI ranges from 0 (dead) to 1.00 (full health). Positive change in score indicates improvement.

  10. Change From Baseline in Quality of Life in Depression Scale (QLDS) Total Score at Days 2, 11 and 25 of the DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline, Days 2, 11 and 25

    The QLDS is a disease-specific patient-reported outcome designed to assess health-related quality of life in patients with MDD, it captures the impact of depression and its treatment from the participant's perspective. The instrument has a recall period of "at the moment" and contains 34 items with "true"/"not true" response options. The total score range is from 0 (good quality of life) to 34 (very poor quality of life). A higher score indicates a more severe condition. Negative change indicates improvement.

  11. Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM-9) Domain Score at Days 15 and 25: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Days 15 and 25

    The TSQM-9 is a 9-item generic patient-reported outcome instrument to assess participants' satisfaction with medication. It covers domains of effectiveness, convenience, and global satisfaction. The TSQM-9 domain scores were calculated as recommended by the instrument authors. (i) Effectiveness = [(item 1 + item 2 + item 3) - 3]/18*100, (ii) Convenience = [(item 4 + item 5 + item 6) - 3]/18*100 and (iii) Global satisfaction = [(item 7 + item 8 + item 9) - 3]/14*100. Each domain score can be calculated only if all the three items considered in the calculation of that score are not missing. The TSQM-9 domain score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing higher satisfaction.

  12. Change From Baseline in Suicide Ideation and Behavior Assessment Tool (SIBAT) Module 5 (My Risk) Question 3 (Participant-Reported Frequency of Suicidal Thinking) Score at Days 1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline, Days 1 (4h postdose), 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25

    SIBAT is an assessment tool that captures suicidal ideation, behavior, and risk. It permits assessment of change in suicidal ideation and behavior and documents clinician assessment of severity of suicidality and suicide risk. SIBAT is organized into 8 modules divided into 2 major divisions: patient-reported section (Modules 1-5) and clinician-rated section (Modules 6-8). Patient-reported section has modules of demographics and suicide history, risk/protective factors, suicidal thinking, suicide behavior, and suicide risk. Question 3 from Module 5 asks participants to describe their thinking about suicide right now from 5 response options ranging from 0 (I have no suicidal thoughts) to 4 (I have suicidal thoughts all of time).

  13. Change From Baseline in Suicide Ideation and Behavior Assessment Tool (SIBAT) Module 7 (Clinician-rated Frequency of Suicidal Thinking [FoST]) Score at Days 1, 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Baseline, Days 1 (4 hours postdose), 2, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25

    SIBAT is assessment tool that captures suicidal ideation, behavior, and risk. It permits assessment of change in suicidal ideation and behavior and documents clinician assessment of severity of suicidality and suicide risk. SIBAT has 8 modules divided into 2 major divisions: patient-reported section (Modules 1-5) and clinician-rated section (Modules 6-8). Clinician-rated section has modules for semi-structured interview, clinical global impressions of current severity of suicidality and imminent suicide risk, clinical global impression of long-term suicide risk, and clinical judgment of optimal suicide management. The score anchor point as in participant report frequency of suicidal thinking that is, response options from never to all the time. Module 7-FoST score ranges from 0-5; higher score indicates more severe condition. Negative change in score indicates improvement.

  14. Number of Participants With Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs): DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Up to Day 25

    An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant administered a medicinal (investigational or non-investigational) product. An AE does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the treatment. An adverse event can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal finding), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal (investigational or non investigational) product, whether or not related to that medicinal (investigational or non-investigational) product. A TEAE is categorized as related if assessed by the investigator as possibly, probably, or very likely related to study agent.

  15. Number of Participants With Treatment Emergent Abnormal Laboratory Values: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Up to Day 25

    Low/high abnormal values are: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)-high=200 Units per liter(U/L); ALP-high=250U/L; aspartate aminotransferase(AST)-high=250U/L; gamma glutamyl transferase(GGT)=300U/L; Albumin (low=24g/L,high=60 g/L); Bicarbonate(low=15.1, high=34.9mmol/L); Bilirubin(high=51.3micromol/L); calcium(low=1.5,high=3mmol/L);Chloride(low=94,high=112mmol/L); CK(High=990U/L); Creatinine (High=265.2micromol/L); Eosinophils(High=10%); Erythrocytes(low=3.0*1012/L,high=6.4*1012/L); Glucose(low=2.2,high=16.7mmol/L); Hemoglobin(low=80g/L,high=190g/L);Hematocrit(low=0.28, high=0.55 fraction); LD(high=500U/L); Leukocytes(low=2.5*109/L,high=15.5*109/L); Lymphocytes(low=10%,high=60%); Monocytes(high=20%); Neutrophils(low=30%,high=90%); Phosphate(low=0.7 mmol/L,high=2.6mmol/L); Platelet count(low=100*109/L,high=600*109/L]; Potassium(low=3.0mmol/L,high=5.8 mmol/L]; Protein(low=50 g/L); Sodium(low=125 mmol/L,high=155 mmol/L); Urate(low=89.2 micromol/L,high=594.8micromol/L); Urine(high=8.0 pH).

  16. Number of Participants With Abnormal Nasal Examinations at Day 25: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: At Day 25

    Number of participants with abnormal nasal examination were reported. Nasal examination of visual inspection of the epistaxis, nasal crusts, nasal discharge, and nasal erythema was performed.

  17. Number of Participants With Treatment Emergent Abnormal Electrocardiogram (ECG) Values at Any Time: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Up to Day 25

    Number of participants with treatment emergent abnormal ECG values for variables including heart rate (abnormally low refers to less than or equal to [<=] 50 beats per minute [bpm] , abnormally high refers greater than or equal to [>=] 100 bpm), pulse rate (PR) interval (abnormally high refers to >= 210 milliseconds [msec]), QRS interval (abnormally Low refers to <= 50, abnormally high refers to >= 120 msec) and QT interval (abnormally low refers to <= 200, abnormally high >= 500 msec) were reported.

  18. Number of Participants With Abnormal Arterial Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) Levels (Less Than [<] 93%) as Assessed by Pulse Oximetry at Any Time: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Up to Day 25

    Pulse oximetry was used to measure arterial SpO2 levels. On each dosing day, the device was attached to the finger, toe, or ear, and SpO2 was monitored and documented. If oxygen saturation levels were less than (<) 93% at any time during the 1.5 hours postdose interval, pulse oximetry was recorded every 5 minutes until levels return to >= 93% or until the participant is referred for appropriate medical care, if clinically indicated. Participants with at least 2 consecutive postdose oxygen saturation below 93% during the DB treatment phase were reported.

  19. Number of Participants With Treatment Emergent Vital Signs Abnormalities: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Up to Day 25

    Number of participants with treatment emergent vital signs abnormalities (pulse rate in bpm [abnormally low = a decrease from baseline of >= 15 to a value <= 50; abnormally high = an increase from baseline of >=15 to a value >=100] , systolic blood pressure [SBP] in mmHg [abnormally low = a decrease from baseline of >= 20 to a value <= 90; abnormally high = an increase from baseline of >= 20 to a value >= 180], and diastolic blood pressure [DBP] in mmHg [abnormally low= a decrease from baseline of >=15 to a value <= 50; abnormally high = an increase from baseline of >= 15 to a value >= 105) were reported.

  20. Number of Sedated Participants as Assessed by Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) Score at Any Time: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Up to Day 25

    MOAA/S was used to measure treatment-emergent sedation with correlation to levels of sedation defined by the American society of anesthesiologists (ASA) continuum. The MOAA/S scores range from 0 to 5 where,0 = no response to painful stimulus; ASA continuum = general anesthesia, 1 = responds to trapezius squeeze; ASA continuum = deep sedation, 2 = purposeful response to mild prodding or mild shaking; ASA continuum = moderate sedation, 3 = responds after name called loudly or repeatedly; ASA continuum = moderate sedation, 4 = lethargic response to name spoken in normal tone; ASA continuum = moderate sedation and 5 = readily responds to name spoken in normal tone (awake); ASA continuum = minimal sedation.

  21. Number of Participants With an Increase in Clinician-administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) Total Score Over Time: DB Treatment Phase

    Time frame: Days 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22 and 25

    The CADSS used to measure present-state dissociative symptoms, and to assess treatment-emergent dissociative symptoms. It comprises 23 subjective items divided into 3 components: depersonalization (with score range from 0 to 28), derealization (with score range from 0 to 52), and amnesia (with score range from 0 to 8). Participants responses are coded on a 5-point scale (0 = "Not at all", 1 = "Mild", 2 = "Moderate", 3 = 'Severe" and 4 = "Extreme"). The total score is sum of the 23 items and range from 0 to 92, where 0 (best) and 92 (worst). A higher score indicates a more severe condition. Number of participants with an increase in CADSS total score (increase based on maximum CADSS total score change from predose of > 0) was reported.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Esketamine in Addition to Comprehensive Standard of Care for the Rapid Reduction of the Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder, Including Suicidal Ideation, in Adult Subjects Assessed to be at Imminent Risk for Suicide

Acronym: Aspire II

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Mar 31, 2017
Registry last updated
Apr 29, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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