SuicidePhase 2NCT06511908
Investigation of the Antidepressant Effects of (2R,6R)-HNK, an Enhancer of Synaptic Glutamate Release, in Treatment-Resistant Depression
A Phase 2 study testing (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (0.25 to 2.0 mg/kg) in people with Suicide and Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, run by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious mental illness that can put people at risk of self-harm and death. Many drugs are used to treat MDD, but it can take a long time for them to be effective. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Suicide, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Ketamine
- What is being tested?
- (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (0.25 to 2.0 mg/kg)
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 6 Nov 2024to 1 Jul 2027
- Phase
- Phase 2
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 70 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
- Ability of participant to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document. To verify this, participants must score >= 80% on the consent quiz.
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.
- 18 to 70 years of age.
- All participants must have undergone a screening assessment under protocol 01-M-0254.
- Participants must fulfill DSM-IV or DSM-5 criteria for MDD, single episode or recurrent without psychotic features, based on clinical assessment and confirmed by a structured diagnostic interview (SCID-P). Participants must be experiencing a current major depressive episode lasting at least two weeks.
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- Participants must have an initial score of >= 20 on the MADRS and a YMRS score of <12 within one week of study entry and upon entry into Phase II.
- Ability to take intravenous medication and be willing to adhere to the (2R,6R)-HNK regimen.
- Participants must have a current or past history of lack of response to at least one adequate antidepressant trial (may be from the same chemical class), with at least one in the current major depressive episode, operationally defined using the modified Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF); non-response to an adequate trial of ECT or TMS would count as an adequate antidepressant trial.
- For individuals of reproductive potential: use of highly effective contraception starting at the time of enrollment and agreement to use such a method during study participation and for an additional four weeks after the end of Study Phase II.
- For males of reproductive potential: use of condoms or other methods from the time of enrollment to ensure effective contraception with partner, and for an additional 90 days after the end of Phase II.
- Agreement to adhere to Lifestyle Considerations throughout study duration.
- Medically healthy, or with stable, treated, chronic medical conditions (provided any medications are not excluded)
Who cannot join
- An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
- Current use of disallowed concomitant medications or transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) two weeks prior to the start of Phase II.
- Treatment with a reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) four weeks prior to the start of Phase II.
- Treatment with fluoxetine, aripiprazole, or brexpiprazole five weeks prior to the start of Phase II.
- Treatment with clozapine or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) four weeks prior to the start of Phase II.
- Ongoing treatment with moderate or strong CYP3A4/5 inhibitors or inducers
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- Lifetime history of deep brain stimulation.
- Previous antidepressant non-response to ketamine or esketamine (full course).
- No structured psychotherapy will be permitted during the total duration of the study. Participants unable or unwilling to stop psychotherapy will be unable to participate in the study.
- Pregnancy or lactation.
- Current psychotic features or a diagnosis of schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder as defined in the DSM-IV or DSM-5.
- Participants with a history of DSM-IV substance or alcohol abuse or dependence, or DSM-5 substance use disorder (except for caffeine, nicotine, or cannabis), or moderate to severe alcohol use disorder, within the preceding three months. In addition, participants who are currently using drugs (except for caffeine, nicotine, or cannabis) must not have used illicit substances or known drugs of abuse in the two weeks prior to screen and must have a negative drug urine test (except for prescribed benzodiazepines or stimulants) prior to starting Phase II. Cannabis use is exclusionary if the use is daily, or if participants are unable to abstain during the study, or if function of daily life is impaired by use as determined by a clinician. Due to the interactions between cannabis and SSRIs, frequent cannabis use during previous antidepressant treatment will result in that treatment being considered a failed trial for eligibility purposes.
- Participants with a DSM-IV or DSM-5 Axis II diagnosis of borderline or antisocial personality disorder.
- Participants with a history of head injury that resulted in loss of consciousness exceeding five minutes (for the imaging component of the study).
- No serious, unstable medical illnesses including but not limited to the following body systems and organs or those that in the judgment of the Principal Investigator pose a risk to the participant's ability to safely participate in the study: Hepatic diseases (e.g. active viral hepatitis infection or cirrhosis of the liver, any liver disease with Child-Pugh score >=5), cardiovascular disease (including ischemic heart disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, poorly controlled hypertension due to risk of further blood pressure elevation and increase in demand on cardiac function from study drug), renal/urologic (e.g chronic kidney disease or acute kidney injury, history of bladder dysfunction due to theoretical risk of ketamine-induced cystitis, moderate to severe renal impairment of any etiology), endocrinologic (including uncontrolled diabetes due to association with progressive abnormality of the microvasculature and nervous system), or neurologic disease (e.g. elevated intraocular pressure or history of or presence of diseases that are associated with elevated intracranial pressure).
- Participants with unstable clinical hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
- Participants with one or more seizures without a clear and resolved etiology.
- Clinically significant abnormal laboratory tests specifically defined by:
- Alkaline phosphatase (Alk Phos) > 150 U/L
- Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 55 U/L
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > 34 U/L
- Total bilirubin (TB) > 1.2 mg/dL
- Direct bilirubin (DB) > 0.5 mg/dL
- 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 20 ng/mL
- Folate < 2ng/mL
- Vitamin B12 < 200 pg/mL
- Moderate to severe renal impairment with body surface area corrected eGFR <60mL/min.
- Participants who, in the Principal Investigator's judgment, pose a current serious suicidal or homicidal risk.
- Positive HIV test.
- Contraindications to MRS (metal in body, claustrophobia, etc. for imaging)
- Participants with COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19
- Inability to read and understand English. Non- English speakers will not be eligible as most of the required monitoring and rating instruments are not validated in languages other than English.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
NIH Clinical Center Office of Patient Recruitment (OPR), 800-411-1222 ext. TTY dial 711, ccopr@nih.gov
About this study
Official title: An Investigation of the Antidepressant Effects of (2R,6R)-HNK, an Enhancer of Synaptic Glutamate Release, in Treatment-Resistant Depression
Background:
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious mental illness that can put people at risk of self-harm and death. Many drugs are used to treat MDD, but it can take a long time for them to be effective. Researchers want to know if a faster-acting drug, (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK), can better treat the symptoms of MDD.
Read more
Objective:
To test a study drug (HNK) in people with MDD.
Eligibility:
People aged 18 to 70 years with MDD. They must have had a screening assessment under protocol 01-M-0254.
Design:
Participants will be tapered off their current MDD drugs over 2 to 5 weeks. They will stay off of the drugs for up to 2 weeks prior to starting the study medication and procedures. They will have a physical exam with blood tests. They will have tests of their heart function, mood, and thinking. They will answer questions about their symptoms. They may choose to have imaging scans and scans of their brain activity.
HNK is given through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein. Participants will receive infusions on this schedule:
They will receive 4 infusions over 2 weeks. They will stay in the clinical center overnight after each infusion or for the duration of the study.
They will receive no drugs for 2 to 3 weeks.
They will have 4 more infusions over 2 weeks, with overnight stays after each or for the duration of the study.
One set of 4 infusions will be the HNK. The other set of 4 infusions will be a placebo. A placebo looks just like the real drug but contains no medicine. Participants will not know when they are getting the HNK or placebo.
...
Read the detailed description
Study Description
This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, single-site study.
This experimental study will assess the efficacy and safety of two weeks of 0.25 to 2.0 mg/kg (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (HNK), an enhancer of synaptic glutamate release. The study may be conducted on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
Objectives
Primary Objective
The primary objective is to evaluate the ability of (2R,6R)-HNK, an enhancer of synaptic glutamate release, to improve overall depressive symptomatology in participants with major depressive disorder (MDD). The efficacy of a two-week course of (2R,6R)-HNK will be compared to two weeks of saline placebo in a crossover study. Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score will serve as the main outcome measure.
Secondary Objectives
- To evaluate the antidepressant efficacy of (2R,6R)-HNK at days 0 (230 min), 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 compared to placebo in a crossover study, as assessed by change from baseline on MADRS total scores.
- To determine whether (2R,6R)-HNK demonstrates superior antidepressant efficacy compared to placebo in a crossover study, as assessed by the proportion of participants in remission (defined as MADRS total score <=10).
- To determine whether antidepressant response to (2R,6R)-HNK is superior to response to placebo in a crossover study, as assessed by the proportion of participants achieving response (defined as a >=50% reduction from baseline in MADRS total score).
- To evaluate the antisuicidal ideation effects of (2R,6R)-HNK at days 0 (230 min), 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 compared to placebo in a crossover study, as assessed by change from baseline on item 10 (suicidality) of the MADRS, the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI).
- To investigate the effects of (2R,6R)-HNK on mood, anxiety, and anhedonia symptoms at days 0 (230 min), 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 compared to placebo in a crossover study, as assessed by change from baseline on the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), and the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS), as well as change from baseline on various cognitive tasks (Auditory, Somatosensory, and Visual Evoked Fields Task, Monetary Incentive Delay (MID) task, Hariri Hamer task, and Probabilistic Reward Task (PRT)).
- To assess the safety and tolerability of a two-week course of (2R,6R)-HNK compared to placebo in a crossover study by incidence of adverse events (AEs) and total scores on the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), vital signs, changes in clinical laboratory evaluations, and electrocardiograms (ECGs).
- To assess the analgesic efficacy of (2R,6R)-HNK compared to placebo on days -1, 1, 4, 8, and 11, as assessed by pain measures during quantitative sensory testing and brain-based biomarkers for pain measured with fMRI on day 4 and day 11.
Endpoints
Endpoints Primary Endpoint
Effect of drug on the MADRS total score at day 12.
Secondary Endpoints
- Proportion of subjects in remission (defined as MADRS total score <=10) at days 0 (230 min), 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12.
- Proportion of subjects with response (defined as >=50% reduction from baseline in MADRS total score) at days 0 (230 min), 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12.
- Effect of drug on MADRS total scores at days 0 (230 min), 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12.
- Effect of drug on HDRS, BDI-II, BPRS, CADSS, C-SSRS, HAM-A, PANAS, SHAPS, SSI, TEPS, and YMRS total scores, and the MADRS item 10 (suicidality) at days 0 (230 min), 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12.
- Effect of drug on the Auditory, Somatosensory, and Visual Evoked Fields Task, MID task, Hariri Hamer task, and PRT.
- Incidence and nature of adverse events; vital signs; weight and body mass index (BMI) changes; physical examination changes; clinical laboratory evaluations; ECG.
- Effect of drug on acute pain measures derived from Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) at days -1, 1, 4, 8, and 11.
Surrogate Markers of Drug Effect, Target Engagement, and Antidepressant Response
- Change in magnetoencephalography (MEG) spectral power (gamma power).
- Change in brain glutamate levels using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).
- Change in resting and task-based functional connectivity in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
- Change in peripheral biomarkers.
- Change in brain-based biomarkers for pain.
- Conditions
- Suicide, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Ketamine, Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action, Neurotransmitter Agents, Excitatory Amino Acid Agents
- Being tested
- (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (0.25 to 2.0 mg/kg), Placebo
- Keywords
- Major Depressive Disorder, Ketamine, Biomarkers, Neuropharmacology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Magnetoencephalography, Neurobiology, Glutamate, Hydroxynorketamine
- Medical subject headings
- Suicide, Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant, Depressive Disorder, Major, Depressive Disorder, Depression, Mental Disorders, Mood Disorders, Behavioral Symptoms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
(2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (0.25 to 2.0 mg/kg)Drug
Arm 1 and 2 Experimental Intervention
PlaceboDrug
Arm 1 and 2 Control Intervention
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Experimental | Individuals in Arm 1 will receive double-blinded (2R,6R)-HNK infusions four times over two weeks during Test Session 1 and daily double-blinded placebo infusions four times over two weeks during Test Session 2. The starting dose will be 0.25 mg/kg and the treatment target for all participants will be 2.0 mg/kg. If response criteria is not met by the morning of the next infusion, the dose may be increased. Doses will be decreased if tolerability issues arise. Receives: Drug: (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (0.25 to 2.0 mg/kg); Drug: Placebo |
| 2 | Experimental | Individuals in Arm 2 will receive double-blinded placebo infusions four times over two weeks during Test Session 2 and double-blinded (2R,6R)-HNK infusions four times over two weeks during Test Session 1. The starting dose will be 0.25 mg/kg and the treatment target for all participants will be 2.0 mg/kg. If response criteria is not met by the morning of the next infusion, the dose may be increased. Doses will be decreased if tolerability issues arise. Receives: Drug: (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine (0.25 to 2.0 mg/kg); Drug: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from baseline on Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total scores
Clinical rating scale of depression
Measured: Baseline, Day 12
Secondary outcomes (8)
Incidence of AEs and total scores using the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, vital signs, changes in clinical laboratory evaluations, and electrocardiograms.
Measures and evaluations assess various aspects of clinical condition, adverse events, and mood and anxiety symptomology
Measured: Baseline, 230 min post-drug, and Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12, per Test Session.
Change from baseline on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale, Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale, and cognitive tasks.
Clinical rating scales of mood, anxiety, and anhedonia
Measured: Baseline, 230 min post-drug, and Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12, per Test Session.
Change from baseline on item 10 (suicidality) of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and total score on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and the Scale for Suicide Ideation.
Clinical rating scales of depression and suicidality
Measured: Baseline, 230 min post-drug, and Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12, per Test Session.
Proportion of participants achieving response (defined as a >/=50% reduction from baseline in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total score)
Clinical rating scale of depression
Measured: Baseline, 230 min post-drug, and Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12, per Test Session.
Proportion of participants in remission (defined as Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total score =10)
Clinical rating scale of depression
Measured: Baseline, 230 min post-drug, and Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12, per Test Session.
Change from baseline on Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale total scores
Clinical rating scale of depression
Measured: Baseline, 230 min post-drug, and Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12, per Test Session.
Pain thresholds and tolerance during quantitative sensory testing.
Measures assess acute pain in response to noxious stimuli.
Measured: Baseline and Days 1, 4, 8, and 11, per Test Session.
Pain thresholds and tolerance during quantitative sensory testing while undergoing fMRI.
fMRI procedures to evaluate dose-dependent effects of HNK on analgesia.
Measured: Days 4 and 11, per Test Session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jul 2024
- Study start6 Nov 2024
- Primary completion1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jul 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for SuicideStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Carlos A Zarate, M.D., Principal investigator, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06511908
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 10001602
- Other IDs
- 001602-M
- Status last verified
- 1 Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Jul 2024
- Last updated
- 5 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Clinical and demographic and biomarker participant data collected during the trial, after deidentification.