The Effect of a Four Week Intensified Pharmacological Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder Compared to Treatment as Usual in Subjects Who Had a First-time Treatment Failure on Their First-line Treatment. (INTENSIFY MDD)

The Effect of a Four Week Intensified Pharmacological Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder Compared to Treatment as Usual in Subjects Who Had a First-time Treatment Failure on Their First-line Treatment.

A Randomised, Controlled Trial to Investigate the Effect of a Four Week Intensified Pharmacological Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder Compared to Treatment as Usual in Subjects Who Had a First-time Treatment Failure on Their First-line Treatment.

Over 28 million people suffer from current depressive disorder in the European Union. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning. To treat MDD, there are several antidepressants available and prescribing medication is a process of trial-and-error. Guidelines do not explicitly advise on the order in which antidepressant medication should be prescribed. The choice of antidepressant should be tailored to the patient, while involving the patient in the decision-making process. In general, the choice for the first- and second-line treatment will be a second-generation antidepressant. Recently, esketamine nasal spray (intranasal (IN) administration) was approved for patients with treatment-resistant MDD (TRD). A patient is diagnosed with TRD when having used two antidepressants in sufficient duration and adequate dose without sufficient effect. TRD is associated with a negative impact on quality of life, higher risk for hospitalisations and suicide, comorbidities, poorer social and occupational functioning and a high carer burden. The efficacy of intranasal use of esketamine has been demonstrated in MDD subjects with treatment-resistant symptoms but also in subjects with non-treatment resistant depression, and is approved by the FDA and EMA as a third-line treatment. Besides the registered esketamine nasal spray, which is not available in all countries to all patients because of the high costs, off-label utilization of (es)ketamine infusions (IV) is growing extensively over time to treat TRD. Research conducted so far indicates an unequivocal initial substantial response to (es)ketamine IV in MDD populations, regardless of whether or not patients suffer from treatment resistant MDD. However, until now, there has not been a study investigating this in a sufficiently large population. This may be a unique opportunity to potentially prevent patients progressing into a treatment resistant illness stage. The potential implications of the results of the current study are the prevention of unnecessary trials of ineffective treatments, reducing subject burden substantially, as well as a reduction of healthcare and societal costs.

Rationale Over 28 million people suffer from current depressive disorder in the European Union. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, and other important areas of functioning. To treat MDD, there are several antidepressants available and prescribing medication is a process of trial-and-error. Guidelines do not explicitly advise on the order in which antidepressant medication should be prescribed. The choice of antidepressant should be tailored to the patient, while involving the patient in the decision-making process. In general, the choice for the first- and second-line treatment will be a second-generation antidepressant. Recently, esketamine nasal spray (intranasal (IN) administration) was approved for patients with treatment-resistant MDD (TRD). A patient is diagnosed with TRD when having used two antidepressants in sufficient duration and adequate dose without sufficient effect. TRD is associated with a negative impact on quality of life, higher risk for hospitalisations and suicide, comorbidities, poorer social and occupational functioning and a high carer burden. The efficacy of intranasal use of esketamine has been demonstrated in MDD subjects with treatment-resistant symptoms but also in subjects with non-treatment resistant depression, and is approved by the FDA and EMA as a third-line treatment. Besides the registered esketamine nasal spray, which is not available in all countries to all patients because of the high costs, off-label utilization of (es)ketamine infusions (IV) is growing extensively over time to treat TRD. Research conducted so far indicates an unequivocal initial substantial response to (es)ketamine IV in MDD populations, regardless of whether or not patients suffer from treatment resistant MDD. However, until now, there has not been a study investigating this in a sufficiently large population. This may be a unique opportunity to potentially prevent patients progressing into a treatment resistant illness stage. The potential implications of the results of the current study are the prevention of unnecessary trials of ineffective treatments, reducing subject burden substantially, as well as a reduction of healthcare and societal costs. Objective The primary objective is to compare the treatment response, expressed as mean change in symptom severity as measured through the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) under an early-intensified pharmacological treatment to that under treatment as usual, in subjects who had a first-time treatment failure on their first-line treatment. Main trial endpoints Mean change in symptom severity total score from baseline (visit 2) to end of treatment (visit 4). This is measured using MADRS. Secondary trial endpoints Comparison of the proportion of participants (EIPT vs. TAU) that is in symptomatic remission at visit 4. Remission is defined as a MADRS score ≤ 12. To compare mean changes in the severity and improvement sub-scores of the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI 1) between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the six week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). To compare mean changes in the levels of depression and anxiety as assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS 2) between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the six week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). To compare mean changes in cognitive performance as measured through the Trail Making Test 3, Digit Symbol Substitution Test 4, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test 5 as well as the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire 6 between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the six week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). To compare mean changes in quality of life and functioning measures (Q-LES-Q-SF 7, LAPS 8, QLS-100 9 and SDS 10 between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the six week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). To compare presence of side effects as measured through General Assessment of Side Effects Scale (GASE) and reported spontaneously between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the six week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). To compare use of concomitant medication between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the six week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). To compare premature discontinuation (timing and reason) between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the six week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). Trial design The clinical study is an international, multicenter controlled, randomised, open label trial (with blinded raters), with a treatment duration of four weeks. Trial population The aim is to recruit 418 subjects with major depressive disorder, without psychotic features. Male and female subjects, in- and out-patients, within the age range of 18 to 70 years old are eligible for participation. The main exclusion criteria are defined to protect the wellbeing of subjects, e.g. being pregnant or breastfeeding, subjects with previous failure on (es)ketamine, meeting any contraindications, or participants with a known intolerance to (es)ketamine. Interventions Subjects are randomised to treatment as usual (second-line treatment) or to the early-intensified pharmacological treatment (third-line treatment). Treatment per can be found in the table below: Table 1. Overview of treatment randomisation per study sample. MDD sample Treatment as Usual (TAU) Switch to second-line antidepressant Early-Intensified Pharmacological Treatment (EIPT) Oral antidepressant plus esketamine nasal spray or esketamine IV or ketamine IV Ethical considerations relating to the clinical trial including the expected benefit to the individual subject or group of subjects represented by the trial subjects as well as the nature and extent of burden and risks In the current study, clinical practice is mimicked as much as possible to maximize generalizability and for feasibility purposes. To this end, Summaries of Product Characteristics (SmPCs) are followed with regards to contraindications (implemented as exclusion criterion), safety measures and allowed combinations with other medications. Site visits and assessments are kept to a minimum to keep subject burden at an acceptable level, while meeting the objectives of the study. Blood samples for biomarker analyses are only collected when subjects provide consent; safety measures are performed as part of clinical routine. Use of both EIPT and TAU medications implies that there is a risk of side effects. For TAU, these side effects are well-known, and would be no different from regular clinical practice. For EIPT, there are acute psychotropic effects of (es)ketamine which are considered side effects for this study, such as anxiety, delusional thoughts, dissociation and hallucinations (see IMPDs). In addition, increased blood pressure and heart rate, as well as dizziness and nausea are reported. These acute effect are transient and after 2 hours completely dissipated. Therefore, an observation period of 2 hours after every administration is implemented to monitor this closely. The potential side effects of all treatments are well-known and will be monitored during the study with a standardized side-effect scale (GASE), spontaneous reporting and the local standard procedure regarding other measures such as laboratory tests, physical examinations, ECGs. The results will be captured (as data) and reviewed for tolerability. Most of the tests that will be done as part of standard clinical care (lab tests, ECG, physical examination) for EIPT are also part of TAU. A benefit of the study is that while ensuring that the tolerability and additional burden remains acceptable, the investigators expect that the larger effect in reducing symptom severity will justify the increase in burden relative to the TAU group. When participants are treated with the intense treatment in earlier stage of the illness (less trial and error before moving on to this treatment option), this is expected to result in a reduced burden of disease for subjects, expressed as less relapses, lower all-cause mortality, hospitalisations and job losses and improved quality of life, in addition to lower societal and healthcare costs as well as preventing patients from turning into a treatment-resistant treatment phase. Last, an advantage of participation could be that subjects will be more thoroughly followed and examined, and that therefore effects and side effects are measured and managed better. IMPORTANT: the study was submitted to the European authorities before (see NCT05603104) and they requested to split this study into 3 studies (1 for each diagnostic category). The investigators have done this and created 3 new ClinicalTrials.gov studies as well, from which this is one for major depressive disorder. Once the investigators have received the NCT numbers for SZ and BD, they will add them here. The site in the UK (London) followed the advice and will submit 3 separate protocols and are therefore included in the current record. However, Israel already submitted this as one protocol. Therefore, the investigators keep the old clinicaltrials.gov number for Israel (NCT05603104).

Parallel randomization to the 2 arms, treatment as usual (TAU) or early-intensified pharmacological treatment (EIPT).

Major depressive disorder randomized to EIPT: Switch to second-line antidepressant + esketamine nasal spray or (es)ketamine infusion. Antidepressant: Compound, brand, dosage, frequency and duration up to the investigator's discretion (in accordance with SmPC). Esketamine nasal spray: 2 times per week for 4 weeks. Initial dose 28 mg, after that increases can be made with 28 mg per increase (up to 84 mg per week). This decision is up to the investigator's discretion (in accordance with SmPC). (Es)ketamine infusion: performed twice weekly for 4 weeks. Compound, brand up to the investigator's discretion (in accordance with SmPC).

Subject with major depressive disorder, randomized to TAU: switch to second-line antidepressant. When randomized to second-line anti-depressants, this means participants will receive treatment as usual. The physician has the choice to administer any second-line anti-depressant. More specification is not possible, as this is a choice the physician makes with the participant based on the characteristic and preference of the participant (in line with standard clinical practice).

Mean change in symptom severity (EIPT vs. TAU) total score from baseline (visit 2) to end of treatment (visit 4). This is measured using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Minimum score is 0, maximum score 60. A bigger mean change means a better outcome

Comparison of the proportion of participants (EIPT vs. TAU) that is in symptomatic remission at visit 4. Remission is defined as a Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating scale score of ≤ 12.

To compare mean changes in the severity sub-score of the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI 2) between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the four week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). Higher scores indicate higher illness severity. Minimum score: 1, maximum score: 7

To compare mean changes in the total improvement sub-score of the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI 2) between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the four week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). A higher score means lower treatment improvement. Minimum score: 1, maximum score: 7

To compare mean changes in the levels of depression and anxiety as assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the four week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). Lower scores mean less depression and anxiety.

To compare mean changes in cognitive performance as measured through the Trail Making Test between the two treatment arms over the four weeks treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). A lower time to complete the test means better cognitive performance.

To compare the mean changes in cognitive performance as measured through the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test

To compare mean changes in cognitive performance as measured through the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test between the two treatment arms over the four weeks treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). A higher scores means better cognitive performance.

To compare the mean changes in subjective cognitive performance as measured through the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire

To compare mean changes in cognitive performance as measured through the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire between the two treatment arms over the four weeks treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). A higher scores means worse subjective cognitive performance.

To compare mean changes in the functioning measure, Leuven Affective and Pleasure Scale, between the two treatment arms over the four weeks treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). A higher scores means worse functioning. Minimum score: 0, Maximum score: 160

To compare mean changes in the functioning measure,Sheehan Disability Scale, between the two treatment arms over the four weeks treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). A higher scores means worse functioning. Minimum score: 0, maximum score 30.

To compare the mean changes in quality of life measure, Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form

To compare mean changes in quality of life measure, Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form between the two treatment arms over the four weeks treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). A higher scores means better quality of life. Minimum score: 16, maximum score: 80.

To compare the mean changes of participants in quality of life measure, Quality of Life Scale -100, subscale inner tension

To compare mean changes in quality of life measure, Quality of Life Scale -100, subscale inner tension between the two treatment arms over the four weeks treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). This is a dichotomous scale (unsatisfactory or satisfactory). More 'satisfactory' answers means higher quality of life.

To compare presence of side effects as measured through General Assessment of Side Effects Scale and reported spontaneously between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the four week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4). Higher scores means more side effects. Minimum score: 0 side effects, maximum score: 38 side effects.

To compare the proportion of participants using concomitant medication between the two treatment arms.

To compare use of concomitant medication between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the four week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4) effects.

To compare the proportion of participants who prematurely discontinue between the two treatment arms.

To compare premature discontinuation between the two treatment arms (EIPT/TAU) over the four week treatment period (visit 2 versus visit 4).

Inclusion Criteria: In- or out patients, at least 18 years of age up until 70. Being willing and able to provide written informed consent. If unable, having a legal guardian to provide written informed consent is allowed (subject's opinion will also be considered in these cases). Female subjects of child bearing potential must use effective contraception during the trial and as per the requirements in the protocol (section 8.2). Meeting diagnostic criteria for a primary diagnosis of major depressive disorder (without psychotic features), according to DSM-5. The primary diagnosis will be confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI v7.0.2). Subject experienced (in total) one treatment failure due to lack of efficacy; this treatment is a first-line pharmacotherapeutic agent for the primary DSM-5 diagnosis, and was prescribed for at least 4 weeks within the dose range as specified in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPCs). The psychopharmacological treatment failure (inclusion criterion 5) should be confirmed by a CGI-I ≥3. Subject and clinician intend to change pharmacotherapeutic treatment. A minimum symptom severity threshold needs to be present (moderate level; see below) and subject needs to experience functional impairment. The minimum symptom severity threshold is a score of ≥20 on the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Functional impairment is defined as a score of 5 or higher on any of the three scales of the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). Exclusion Criteria: Being pregnant or breastfeeding. Subject has failed previously on (es)ketamine due to inefficacy (after treatment duration of ≥ 4 weeks within an efficacious dose range according to the SmPC. Subject has a known intolerance to (es)ketamine or to all TAU medication. Meeting any of the contraindications for (es)ketamine, or to all TAU medication options, as specified within the applicable SmPC. Subject has participated in another clinical trial in which the subject received an experimental or investigational drug or agent within 30 days before visit 1. Subject currently uses more than the allowed psychotropic concomitant medication and needs to stay on this medication during the study. Subject experiences any other significant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the investigator, may either put the subjects at risk because of participation in the trial, or may influence the result of the trial, or the subject's ability to participate in the trial. Moderate or high suicidal ideation within the last 2 weeks, defined as a score of 9 or higher on Module B (Suicidality) of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI v7.0.2). Subject meets criteria for current substance use disorder, as confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI v7.0.2). Nicotine dependency is allowed, as well as mild alcohol and/or cannabis use disorder (as defined by MINI v7.0.2). Moderate and severe alcohol and/or cannabis use disorder are not allowed. Subjects who are admitted in the (psychiatric) clinic due to a court or administrative order are not allowed to participate in the study.