Purpose

The purpose of this research study is to examine how well a medication called lumateperone (Caplyta) works to relieve depression in older adults with treatment-resistant depression. Lumateperone (Caplyta) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Major Depressive Disorder in adults who are also taking another antidepressant medication. This study will compare lumateperone (Caplyta) to placebo (a sugar pill without medication).

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 60 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age >=60 - Current unipolar non-psychotic major depression determined by SCID-5 - MADRS score >=20 at screening and >=18 at baseline - Treatment-resistance defined as documented history of non-response to at least two oral medications of adequate dose and duration in this episode or previous episode, OR clinician determination that treatment augmentation is appropriate - Currently taking oral antidepressant prescribed at least minimum therapeutic dose and for at least six weeks duration - MMSE score of >/=24

Exclusion Criteria

  • Dementia - High risk for suicide, defined as a 4 or 5 on C-SSRS (indicating active suicidal ideation with current or recent intent or plan), and unable to be managed safely in the clinical trial. Urgent psychiatric referral will be made in these cases. - High risk alcohol use: defined as a score of 6 or more on the AUDIT-C - Medically inappropriate for participation as determined by PIs.

Study Design

Phase
Phase 3
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Lumateperone
The starting dose of lumateperone or placebo will typically be 21 mg/day for the first week. Those participants who are taking moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors will start at 10.5 mg/ day. The dose will be increased for most participants to 42 mg/ day at Week 2 and maintained until Week 10. Participants with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B or C) will be maintained at 21 mg/day. Participants who are taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors will be maintained at 10.5 mg/ day. Participants who are taking moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors will increase as tolerated to 21 mg/ day.
  • Drug: Lumateperone
    Participants will be randomized to take either lumateperone or placebo along with their existing antidepressant for 10 weeks. Dose will range from 10.5mg-42mg over the course of the study.
    Other names:
    • Caplyta
Placebo Comparator
Placebo
The starting dose of lumateperone or placebo will typically be 21 mg/day for the first week. Those participants who are taking moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors will start at 10.5 mg/ day. The dose will be increased for most participants to 42 mg/ day at Week 2 and maintained until Week 10. Participants with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class B or C) will be maintained at 21 mg/day. Participants who are taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors will be maintained at 10.5 mg/ day. Participants who are taking moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors will increase as tolerated to 21 mg/ day.
  • Drug: Placebo
    Participants will be randomized to take either lumateperone or placebo along with their existing antidepressant for 10 weeks. Dose will range from 10.5mg-42mg over the course of the study.

Recruiting Locations

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Eric Lenze

Study Contact

Angela Stevens
314-362-6291
stevens.a@wustl.edu

Detailed Description

This study is a 10-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive lumateperone in older adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Approximately 100 participants aged ≥60 years with unipolar, non-psychotic major depressive disorder will be enrolled across two study sites. Participants will continue their existing antidepressant medication at a stable dose throughout the study and will be randomized to receive either lumateperone or matching placebo administered adjunctively during the treatment phase. - Screening: Participants who sign consent will go through a screening process. This will involve answering questions about medical history, medications, demographics, mood and emotions as well as completing a brief cognitive test. - Baseline: If the participant is eligible from the screening visit, the participant will complete a baseline visit in our research clinic. This will involve answering questions and completing questionnaires about mood and emotions, completing tasks on an iPad to assess thinking, attention, and memory, as well as a physical exam. The physical exam will include gathering height and weight, an evaluation for potential medication side effects, a fasting blood draw to measure blood lipids and glucose, and an electrocardiogram (ECG). - Study Medication: Participants will be randomized (like flipping a coin) to take either lumateperone or placebo (sugar pill). The research team and participant will be blinded to each participant's study medication. Participants will not get to choose whether they take lumateperone or placebo. - Monitoring visits: The study team will ask participants to complete visits in the research clinic after one week, two weeks, four weeks, six weeks, and eight weeks following the baseline visit. These visits will be to assess depression symptoms, medication changes, and side effects. The study team may ask participants to complete additional visits in person or over the phone if they are needed to manage side effects or worsening in depressive symptoms. - Endpoint visit: After 10-weeks the study team will ask participants to complete an endpoint visit in the research clinic to measure the effects of lumateperone or placebo. This visit includes answering questions and completing questionnaires about mood and emotions, medication changes, and side effects. Participants will complete tasks on an iPad to assess their thinking, attention, and memory. There will also be a fasting blood draw to measure blood lipids and glucose as well as another ECG. - Extra visit (if needed): The study team may ask participants to complete one additional endpoint visit for a final assessment of symptoms.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.