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The BIO-K Study: A Single-Arm, Open-Label, Biomarker Development Clinical Trial of Ketamine for Non-Psychotic Unipolar Major Depression and Bipolar I or II Depression.

The BIO-K Study: A Single-Arm, Open-Label, Biomarker Development Clinical Trial of Ketamine for Non-Psychotic Unipolar Major Depression and Bipolar I or II Depression.

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03156504
Acronym
Bio-K
Enrollment
75
Registered
2017-05-17
Start date
2017-06-01
Completion date
2020-03-12
Last updated
2022-03-15

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

Conditions

Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, Major Depression, Unipolar Depression

Brief summary

The purpose of this research study is to find out if the medication known as ketamine can help the symptoms of depression. This drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but the investigators will use it for a non-FDA approved reason (depression).

Detailed description

The investigators will enroll 100 adults with treatment-resistant unipolar or bipolar major depression (TRD) across 7 clinical sites and provide three IV ketamine infusions (0.5 mg/kg, infused over 100 minutes) and measure their depressive symptom responses. Biomarkers will be developed using blood samples from study subjects, taken prior to (predictive biomarkers) and following ketamine treatment (change biomarkers). The investigators will begin by studying the predictive value of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) target engagement by ketamine using a white blood cell (WBC) assay for antidepressive response to ketamine (Aim 1); however, samples will be used to develop multiple blood-based biomarkers for ketamine antidepressive effects (Aim 2). The investigators will also examine the effect of combining multiple blood-based biomarkers for predicting antidepressive response to ketamine in adults with TRD (Aim 3). Baseline WBC markers of impaired cellular energy regulation will be associated with measures of clinical response to ketamine (predictive biomarker). Changes in WBC markers of impaired cellular energy regulation will be associated with clinical response to ketamine (change biomarker).

Interventions

DRUGKetamine Hydrochloride

Subjects will receive three IV ketamine infusions at 0.5 mg/kg, infused over 100 minutes.

Sponsors

National Network of Depression Centers
CollaboratorOTHER
Mayo Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Ability to provide informed consent * Current psychiatric inpatient (voluntary only) or outpatient treatment * Meets Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, bipolar I disorder, or bipolar II disorder * Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) total score \> 15 at screening and at baseline (just prior to first acute phase ketamine infusion); * Treatment-resistant depression, as defined by failure of at least two previous antidepressant or mood stabilizing treatments within the current depressive episode * Failed antidepressant or mood stabilizing treatments can include pharmacotherapy for depression at an adequate dose for at least 8 weeks, or an acute series of at least 6 administrations of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) * Ability to pass a comprehension assessment test related to effects of ketamine and trial objectives and criteria

Exclusion criteria

* Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or active psychotic symptoms * Ongoing prescription of \> 4 mg lorazepam equivalents (total) daily, or morning dosing of any benzodiazepine at the time of assessment * Currently undergoing ECT, transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagal nerve stimulation, or deep brain stimulation as either an acute or maintenance treatment of depression * Any active or unstable medical condition judged by the study psychiatrist as conferring too great a level of medical risk to allow inclusion in the study * Use or abuse of methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, or stimulants (prescribed and illicit) within the past 12 months * Any current abuse or dependence of alcohol or drugs (excluding nicotine and caffeine) Note: Persons will be allowed to enroll in this study if their drug or alcohol abuse/dependence is in complete (not partial) and sustained (\> 1 year) remission * History of traumatic brain injury that resulted in loss of consciousness * Developmental delay, mental retardation, or intellectual disorder * Clinical or self-reported diagnosis of delirium, encephalopathy, or related clinical diagnosis within the prior 12 months * Cognitive disorder (mild and major categories, per DSM-5) * Prior participation in another study of ketamine for depression within the prior 6 months * History of either poor antidepressive response to or poor tolerability of ketamine (any route of administration) when previously administered for treating symptoms of depression * History of hypothyroidism unless taking a stable dose of thyroid medication and asymptomatic for 6 months * Significant unstable medical condition * Hepatic insufficiency (2.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or ALT) within 1 year of consent, past liver transplant recipient, and/or clinical diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver * Pregnancy, or nursing * Prisoners * Involuntary psychiatric hospitalization

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Clinical Remission of Depression24 hours post infusion #3Total number of subjects with ≤ 9 MADRS score 24 hours post Ketamine infusion #3. The Montgomery Åsberg Depression Scale (MÅDRS) is a 10-item observer rating scale assessing symptoms of depression. The score ranges from 0 (no depression) to 60 (very depressed). For this study a score of less than or equal to 9 was considered clinical remission of depression.
Suicidal Ideation24 hours post infusion #3Total number of subjects to have a reduction of suicidality, as defined by a 50% reduction on the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS) 24 hours post Ketamine infusion #3. The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation consists of 19 items which can be used to evaluate a patient's suicidal intentions. Each of the 19 items is rated on a 0-3 point scale (range 0-38, with higher scores indicating greater suicidal ideations or risk), and includes specific items that assess wish to live, wish to die, desire to make an active suicide attempt, passive suicidal desire, duration of suicidal ideations, frequency of suicidal ideations, and subjective level of control over suicidal actions.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Ketamine
Subjects will receive three IV Ketamine Hydrochloride infusions (0.5 mg/kg, infused over 100 minutes) and measure their depressive symptom responses. Biomarkers will be developed using blood samples from study subjects, taken prior to (predictive biomarkers) and following ketamine treatment (change biomarkers). Ketamine Hydrochloride: Subjects will receive three IV ketamine infusions at 0.5 mg/kg, infused over 100 minutes.
75
Total75

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicKetamine
Age, Continuous44.27 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12.87
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
73 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 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
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
72 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
75 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
46 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
29 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 75
other
Total, other adverse events
3 / 75
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 75

Outcome results

Primary

Clinical Remission of Depression

Total number of subjects with ≤ 9 MADRS score 24 hours post Ketamine infusion #3. The Montgomery Åsberg Depression Scale (MÅDRS) is a 10-item observer rating scale assessing symptoms of depression. The score ranges from 0 (no depression) to 60 (very depressed). For this study a score of less than or equal to 9 was considered clinical remission of depression.

Time frame: 24 hours post infusion #3

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
KetamineClinical Remission of Depression39 Participants
Primary

Suicidal Ideation

Total number of subjects to have a reduction of suicidality, as defined by a 50% reduction on the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS) 24 hours post Ketamine infusion #3. The Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation consists of 19 items which can be used to evaluate a patient's suicidal intentions. Each of the 19 items is rated on a 0-3 point scale (range 0-38, with higher scores indicating greater suicidal ideations or risk), and includes specific items that assess wish to live, wish to die, desire to make an active suicide attempt, passive suicidal desire, duration of suicidal ideations, frequency of suicidal ideations, and subjective level of control over suicidal actions.

Time frame: 24 hours post infusion #3

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
KetamineSuicidal Ideation42 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 8, 2026