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Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of an Oral Aripiprazole/Escitalopram Combination Therapy in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of an Oral Aripiprazole/Escitalopram Combination Therapy in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01111565
Enrollment
137
Registered
2010-04-27
Start date
2010-10-04
Completion date
2011-09-01
Last updated
2021-12-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Keywords

Major Depressive Disorder, MDD, Depression

Brief summary

This will be a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study designed to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of an oral Aripiprazole/Escitalopram combination therapy in participants with MDD who have demonstrated an incomplete response to a prospective trial of Escitalopram, and report a treatment history for the current MDD episode of an inadequate response to at least one and no more than three adequate trials of an approved antidepressant other than Escitalopram. An inadequate response is defined as less than a 50% reduction in depressive symptom severity as assessed by the participant's self-report on the Massachusetts General Hospital Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire (ATRQ) and evaluated by the investigator as part of the participant's medical and psychiatric history. An adequate trial is defined as an antidepressant treatment for at least 6 weeks duration (or at least 3 weeks for combination treatments) at an approved dose as specified in the ATRQ.

Detailed description

The study will be organized as follows: * Screening Phase * Single-blind Prospective Treatment Phase * Single-blind Continuation Phase (Responder)or Double-blind Randomization Phase (non-Responder) * 30 day Post Treatment Follow-up Assigned Interventions: * Escitalopram monotherapy * Aripiprazole/Escitalopram combination therapy * Aripiprazole monotherapy

Interventions

DRUGEscitalopram

Escitalopram capsule administered orally, once daily without regard to meals.

DRUGAripiprazole

Aripiprazole capsule administered orally, once daily without regard to meals.

Sponsors

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Participants with a current diagnosis of a major depressive episode. The current depressive episode must be ≥8 weeks in duration * Participants willing to discontinue all prohibited psychotropic medication starting from the time of signing the informed consent and during the study period * Participants with a 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17) Total Score ≥18 at the Baseline for the Prospective Treatment Phase

Exclusion criteria

* Lack of prior treatment with an antidepressant during the current depressive episode * Participants who report treatment with adjunctive or monotherapy antipsychotic treatment during the current depressive episode. * Participants experiencing hallucinations, delusions or any psychotic symptomatology in the current depressive episode * Participants with epilepsy or significant history of seizure disorders * Participants with a clinically significant current diagnosis of borderline, antisocial, paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal or histrionic personality disorder * Participants who have received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the last 10 years

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Phase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)Week 8 to Week 14The MADRS assessed severity of depressive symptoms. It ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 60 (higher scores indicating a greater severity of depressive symptoms). Participants are rated on 10 items (feelings of sadness, lassitude, pessimism, inner tension, suicidality, reduced sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, and a lack of interest) each on a 7-point scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (symptoms of maximum severity). A negative change (or decrease) from baseline indicates a reduction (or improvement) in symptoms. Last observation carried forward (LOCF) method was used for analyses.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Phase C: Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale (CGI-I) Score at the End of Phase CWeek 14CGI-I is a 7-point clinician-rated scale ranging from 1 to 7, rated as 1, very much improved; 2, much improved; 3, minimally improved; 4, no change; 5, minimally worse; 6, much worse; or 7, very much worse. A higher score indicates greater impairment. LOCF method was used for analyses.
Phase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Mean Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)Week 8 to Week 14SDS is a 3-item clinician-rated questionnaire used to evaluate impairments in the domains of work, social life/leisure, and family life/home responsibility. The participant is asked to rate the degree to which their functioning is impaired on an 11-point scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). Scores of 0 to 3 indicate mild functional impairment, 4 to 6 indicate moderate functional impairment, and 7 to 9 indicate marked functional impairment. The scores for the 3 domains are summed into a total score that ranges from 0 (unimpaired) to 30 (highly impaired). A higher score indicates greater impairment. A negative change score indicates improvement. LOCF method was used for analyses.

Countries

Canada, Croatia, France, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Participants took part in the study at 70 investigative sites in the United States, Canada, France, India, Malaysia, Poland, and South Africa from 4 October 2010 to 1 September 2011.

Pre-assignment details

A total of 137 participants were enrolled in Phase B (Single-blind Prospective Treatment Phase) to receive escitalopram monotherapy(10 or 20mg/day),of which 26 responders continued to Phase B+(Single-blind Phase B Responders),received escitalopram monotherapy(10 or 20mg/day).45 non-responders were randomized in 1:1:1 ratio to Phase C(Double-blind Randomization Phase),received aripiprazole/escitalopram combination therapy or escitalopram or aripiprazole monotherapy.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Phase B: Single-blind Prospective Treatment Phase
Escitalopram 10 mg capsule, orally, once daily increased to 20 mg/day at the Week 1 (end of Week 1) based upon tolerability profile, for 8 weeks. No dose reductions were allowed after Week 4 and no dose increments were allowed after Week 3. Participants with incomplete response at the end of the Phase B (Week 8) entered Phase C and the rest of the participants continued to Phase B+.
137
Total137

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001FG002FG003FG004
Phase B + and Phase C (Weeks 9 to 14)Adverse Event00200
Phase B + and Phase C (Weeks 9 to 14)Investigator Withdrew Subjects00010
Phase B + and Phase C (Weeks 9 to 14)Lost to Follow-up00010
Phase B + and Phase C (Weeks 9 to 14)Sponsor Discontinued Study07323
Phase B + and Phase C (Weeks 9 to 14)Subjects Withdrew Consent00001
Phase B (Weeks 0 to 8)Adverse Event10000
Phase B (Weeks 0 to 8)Investigator Withdrew Subject10000
Phase B (Weeks 0 to 8)Lack of Efficacy as Determined by the Investigator10000
Phase B (Weeks 0 to 8)Lost to Follow-up30000
Phase B (Weeks 0 to 8)Protocol Deviation10000
Phase B (Weeks 0 to 8)Sponsor Discontinued Study580000
Phase B (Weeks 0 to 8)Subject Withdrew Consent10000

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPhase B: Single-blind Prospective Treatment Phase
Age, Continuous43.3 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.3
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
6 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
129 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
10 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
26 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
11 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
90 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
90 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
47 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
EG003
affected / at risk
EG004
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 1370 / 260 / 160 / 140 / 15
other
Total, other adverse events
65 / 1374 / 2612 / 1611 / 1413 / 15
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 1370 / 260 / 160 / 140 / 15

Outcome results

Primary

Phase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)

The MADRS assessed severity of depressive symptoms. It ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 60 (higher scores indicating a greater severity of depressive symptoms). Participants are rated on 10 items (feelings of sadness, lassitude, pessimism, inner tension, suicidality, reduced sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, and a lack of interest) each on a 7-point scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 6 (symptoms of maximum severity). A negative change (or decrease) from baseline indicates a reduction (or improvement) in symptoms. Last observation carried forward (LOCF) method was used for analyses.

Time frame: Week 8 to Week 14

Population: Intent-to-treat (ITT) Sample included all participants in the Randomized Sample who received at least one dose of double blind trial medication and had at least one post-randomization efficacy evaluation in Phase C.

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)Dispersion
Phase C: Aripiprazole/Escitalopram CombinationPhase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)-9.0 score on a scaleStandard Error 2.1
Phase C: Escitalopram MonotherapyPhase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)-3.6 score on a scaleStandard Error 2.2
Phase C: Aripiprazole MonotherapyPhase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)-3.8 score on a scaleStandard Error 2.1
p-value: =0.07995% CI: [-11.5, 0.7]ANCOVA
p-value: =0.08595% CI: [-11.2, 0.7]ANCOVA
Secondary

Phase C: Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale (CGI-I) Score at the End of Phase C

CGI-I is a 7-point clinician-rated scale ranging from 1 to 7, rated as 1, very much improved; 2, much improved; 3, minimally improved; 4, no change; 5, minimally worse; 6, much worse; or 7, very much worse. A higher score indicates greater impairment. LOCF method was used for analyses.

Time frame: Week 14

Population: ITT Sample included all participants in the Randomized Sample who received at least one dose of double blind trial medication and had at least one post-randomization efficacy evaluation in Phase C.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Phase C: Aripiprazole/Escitalopram CombinationPhase C: Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale (CGI-I) Score at the End of Phase C2.5 score on a scaleStandard Error 0.2
Phase C: Escitalopram MonotherapyPhase C: Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale (CGI-I) Score at the End of Phase C3.0 score on a scaleStandard Error 0.2
Phase C: Aripiprazole MonotherapyPhase C: Clinical Global Impression - Improvement Scale (CGI-I) Score at the End of Phase C2.9 score on a scaleStandard Error 0.2
p-value: =0.14895% CI: [-1.1, 0.1]Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel
p-value: =0.24295% CI: [-1, 0.3]Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel
Secondary

Phase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Mean Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)

SDS is a 3-item clinician-rated questionnaire used to evaluate impairments in the domains of work, social life/leisure, and family life/home responsibility. The participant is asked to rate the degree to which their functioning is impaired on an 11-point scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extremely). Scores of 0 to 3 indicate mild functional impairment, 4 to 6 indicate moderate functional impairment, and 7 to 9 indicate marked functional impairment. The scores for the 3 domains are summed into a total score that ranges from 0 (unimpaired) to 30 (highly impaired). A higher score indicates greater impairment. A negative change score indicates improvement. LOCF method was used for analyses.

Time frame: Week 8 to Week 14

Population: ITT Sample included all participants in the Randomized Sample who received at least one dose of double blind trial medication and had at least one post-randomization efficacy evaluation in Phase C. Overall number of participants analyzed are participants with data available for analyses.

ArmMeasureValue (LEAST_SQUARES_MEAN)Dispersion
Phase C: Aripiprazole/Escitalopram CombinationPhase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Mean Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)-1.6 score on a scaleStandard Error 0.7
Phase C: Escitalopram MonotherapyPhase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Mean Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)-1.8 score on a scaleStandard Error 0.7
Phase C: Aripiprazole MonotherapyPhase C: Mean Change From End of Phase B (Week 8) in the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) Mean Score to End of Phase C (Week 14)-0.6 score on a scaleStandard Error 0.7
p-value: =0.9195% CI: [-1.8, 2.1]ANCOVA
p-value: =0.29195% CI: [-3, 0.9]ANCOVA

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026