This pooled analysis of two phase III studies (n=518, TRANSFORM) finds that for those who didn’t respond, continued treatment may still be beneficial. This was both true for the esketamine group and the group that received a placebo.
Abstract
“Objective: To evaluate response to esketamine nasal spray plus an oral antidepressant (ESK + AD) at day 28 in patients with major depressive disorder (DSM-5) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) who did not meet response criteria within the first week of treatment.
Methods: The current study is a pooled post hoc analysis of two phase 3, double-blind, active-controlled studies, conducted between August 2015 and February 2018, comparing ESK + AD with an oral antidepressant plus placebo (AD + PBO). Early treatment response was defined as a ≥ 50% decrease in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale total score at day 2 or days 2 and 8. Response rates at day 28 were determined among those not meeting early response criteria.
Results: 518 patients in the analysis had day 28 observations (ESK + AD, n = 310; AD + PBO, n = 208). A greater percentage of patients treated with ESK + AD versus AD + PBO met response criteria beginning at day 2 (17.3% [55/318] vs 9.4% [19/203]) and at all subsequent timepoints, including day 28 (58.7% [182/310] vs 45.2% [94/208]). In day 2 nonresponders, 54.9% vs 44.3% (ESK + AD vs AD + PBO, respectively) achieved response at day 28 (P < .01). Similarly, among day 2 and 8 nonresponders, 52.1% vs 42.4% achieved response by day 28 (P = .01). In nonresponders at day 2 and at days 2 and 8, the odds ratio for a response at day 28 was 1.61 (95% CI, 1.09-2.40) with ESK + AD versus 1.56 (95% CI, 1.04-2.35) with AD + PBO.
Conclusions: Patients with TRD without a demonstrated response within the first week of treatment may still derive benefit from a full 4-week induction course of esketamine nasal spray.”
Authors: Ibrahim Turkoz, Ella J. Daly, Jaskaran Singh, Xiwu Lin, Yevgen Tymofyeyev, David Williamson, Giacomo Salvadore, Abigail I. Nash, Matthew Macaluso, Samuel T. Wilkinson & J. Craig Nelson
Study details
Compounds studied
Ketamine
Topics studied
Depression
Treatment-Resistant Depression
Study characteristics
Placebo-Controlled
Double-Blind
Randomized
Participants
518
Institutes
Institutes associated with this publication
Johnson & JohnsonOne of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, Johnson & Johnson are responsible for bringing esketamine to market in the form of Spravato.
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