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NCT07716098PHASE3Recruiting

A Study of Esketamine Nasal Spray Versus Placebo Spray in Adult Participants With Treatment-resistant Depression

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Start Date

7/23/2026

Completion Date

9/12/2029

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well each individual dose of esketamine (56 milligrams \[mg\] and 84 mg) works when compared with placebo in improving depressive symptoms in participants with treatment resistant depression (individuals with major depressive disorder \[MDD\] who have not responded to at least 2 different antidepressant treatments given at an adequate dose for an adequate duration in the current episode of depression).

Eligibility Criteria

Age Range: 18 years to No maximum

Inclusion Criteria: * Participant must meet the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition) (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for single-episode major depressive disorder (MDD) (if single episode MDD, the duration of the episode must be greater than or equal to \[\>=\] 12 months) or recurrent MDD, without psychotic features, based upon clinical assessment and confirmed by the mini international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI) as the primary diagnosis. Participant must have had the first onset of depression prior to 55 years of age * Participant must have had nonresponse (less than or equal to \[\<=\] 25 percent \[%\] improvement) to \>=2 oral antidepressant treatments in the current episode of depression, assessed using the massachusetts general hospital-antidepressant treatment response questionnaire (MGH-ATRQ), and confirmed by documented records (for example, medical/pharmacy/prescription records or a letter from a treating physician) * The participant's current major depressive episode, depression symptom severity, and antidepressant treatment response in the current depressive episode, must be confirmed by the state versus trait, assessability, face validity, ecological validity, rule of three P's (SAFER) Interview * Participant must be comfortable with self-administration of nasal spray medication and be able to follow the nasal spray administration instructions provided * A female participant of childbearing potential must have a negative highly sensitive serum (β-human chorionic gonadotropin \[β-hCG\]) at the start of screening and a negative urine pregnancy test must be obtained before the first dose of study drug on Day 1, prior to randomization Exclusion Criteria: * The participant has used ketamine/esketamine (lifetime) * The participant's depressive symptoms have demonstrated nonresponse in the current major depressive episode to an adequate course of treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), defined as at least 7 treatments with unilateral/bilateral ECT, or to adequate course of treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), defined as at least 4 weeks of treatment with 5 sessions per week * Participant has received vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) or deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the current episode of depression * 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 phase, per the investigator's clinical judgment or based on the columbia suicide severity rating scale (C-SSRS), corresponding to a response of "Yes" on Item 4 (active suicidal ideation with some intent to act, without specific plan) or Item 5 (active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent) for suicidal ideation on the C-SSRS, or a history of suicidal behavior within the past year prior to the start of the screening phase. Participants reporting suicidal ideation with intent to act or suicidal behavior prior to the start of the double-blind treatment phase should be excluded * Participant has a history of moderate or severe substance or alcohol use disorder according to DSM-5 criteria, except nicotine or caffeine, within 6 months before the start of the screening phase. a. 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 current or history of seizures (uncomplicated childhood febrile seizures with no sequelae are not exclusionary)

Interventions

DRUG

Esketamine 56 mg

DRUG

Esketamine 84 mg

DRUG

Placebo

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Conditions

Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant

Locations

Anderson Clinical Research

Redlands, California 92374

United States

Artemis Institute for Clinical Research

San Diego, California 92123

United States

Psych Atlanta, P.C.

Marietta, Georgia 30060

United States

Psychiatric Medicine Associates LLC

Skokie, Illinois 60076

United States

Neurobehavioral Research Inc

Cedarhurst, New York 11516

United States

The Medical Research Network, LLC

New York, New York 10128

United States

Northwest Clinical Research Center

Bellevue, Washington 98007

United States

Kishiro Mental Clinic

Kawasaki, 214-0014

Japan

Tatsuta Clinic

Kobe, 651-0097

Japan

National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry

Kodaira-shi, 187-8551

Japan

Ichikawa Clinic

Maebashi, 371-0031

Japan

The Jikei University Hospital

Minatoku, 105-8471

Japan

Kyorin University Hospital

Mitaka, 181-8611

Japan

Arata Clinic

Nagasaki, 852-8137

Japan

Hokkaido University Hospital

Sapporo, 060 8648

Japan

Sangenjaya neurology-psychosomatic clinic

Setagaya Ku, 154 0004

Japan

Maynds Tower Mental Clinic

Shibuya-ku, 151-0053

Japan

Tottori University Hospital

Tottori, 683-0824

Japan

Chung Shan Medical University Hospital

Taichung, 402

Taiwan

Taipei Medical University

Taipei, 110

Taiwan

Taipei Veterans General Hospital

Taipei, 11217

Taiwan

Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital

Taoyuan, 333

Taiwan