| Eligibility |
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Male or female, 18 to 65 years of age, inclusive, at screening.
2. Able to read, understand, and provide written, dated informed consent prior to
screening. Participants will be deemed likely to comply with study protocol and
communicate with study personnel about adverse events and other clinically important
information.
3. Ability to participate in MRI (no history of claustrophobia, no presence of metallic
foreign bodies incompatible with MRI, as assessed with MRI checklist and clinical
interview).
4. Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorders (MDD), single or recurrent, and currently
experiencing a major depressive episode (MDE) of at least eight weeks in duration,
prior to screening, according to the criteria defined in the Diagnosis and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The diagnosis of MDD will be made
by a site psychiatrist and supported by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5
(SCID-5).
5. Has a history of treatment-resistant depression (TRD), as assessed by the investigator
using the Mass General Hospital Antidepressant Treatment History Questionnaire (MGH
ATRQ). TRD is defined as failure to achieve a satisfactory response (e.g., less than
50% improvement of depression symptoms), as perceived by the participant, to at least
1 "treatment course" of a therapeutic dose of an antidepressant therapy of at least 8
weeks duration (including the current antidepressant treatment). The adequacy of dose
and duration of the antidepressant therapy will be determined as per the MGH ATRQ
criteria.
6. Depression is of at least "moderate" severity, as determined by a Clinical Global
Impression-Severity scale (CGI-S) score greater than or equal to 4).
7. In good general health, as ascertained by medical history, physical examination
(including measurement of vital signs), clinical laboratory evaluations, and
electrocardiogram (ECG).
8. If female, a status of non-childbearing potential or use of an acceptable form of
birth control per the following specific criteria:
a. Non-childbearing potential (e.g., physiologically incapable of becoming pregnant,
i.e., permanently sterilized (status post hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation), or
is post-menopausal with her last menses at least one year prior to screening); or b.
Childbearing potential, and meets the following criteria: i. Childbearing potential,
including women using any form of hormonal birth control, on hormone replacement
therapy started prior to 12 months of amenorrhea, using an intrauterine device (IUD),
having a monogamous relationship with a partner who has had a vasectomy, or is
sexually abstinent.
ii. Negative urinary pregnancy test at screening, confirmed by a negative urinary
pregnancy test at baseline, prior to receiving ketamine treatment.
iii. Willing and able to continuously use one of the following methods of birth
control during the course of the study, defined as those which result in a low failure
rate (i.e., less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly: implants,
injectable or patch hormonal contraception, oral contraceptives, IUD, double-barrier
contraception, sexual abstinence. The form of birth control will be documented at
screening and baseline.
9. Body mass index between 18-35 kg/m2.
10. Concurrent benzodiazepine therapy will be allowed if the dose is less than or equal to
2mg of lorazepam (or the equivalent) per day and stable for the past 4 weeks.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Female of childbearing potential who is not willing to use one of the specified forms
of birth control during the study.
2. Female that is pregnant or breastfeeding.
3. Female with a positive pregnancy test at screening or baseline.
4. Current diagnosis of a substance use disorder, except for nicotine dependence, at
screening or within 6 months prior to screening.
5. History of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders, or any
history of psychotic symptoms in the current or previous depressive episodes.
6. History of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or eating disorder not otherwise
specified, within 5 years of screening.
7. In the judgment of the investigator, the subject is considered at significant risk for
suicidal behavior during his/her participation in the study.
8. Has dementia, delirium, amnestic, or any other cognitive disorder.
9. Has a clinically significant abnormality on the screening physical examination that
might affect safety, study participation, or confound interpretation of study results
according to the study clinician.
10. Current episode of:
1. Hypertension, Stage 1 as defined by a systolic blood pressure =160 mmHg or
diastolic blood pressure =100 mmHg at screening (Visit 1) or within 1.5 hours
prior to ketamine administration on two of three measurements (standing and
supine) at least 15 minutes apart.
2. Recent myocardial infarction (within one year) or a history of myocardial
infarction.
3. Syncopal event within the past year.
4. Congestive heart failure (CHF): New York Heart Association Criteria >Stage 2
5. Angina pectoris.
6. Heart rate <45 or >110 beats per minute at screening or Visit 3 ( first ketamine
administration).
7. QTcF (Fridericia-corrected) =450 msec at screening or Visit 3 (first ketamine
administration).
11. Chronic lung disease excluding asthma.
12. Lifetime history of surgical procedures involving the brain or meninges, encephalitis,
meningitis, degenerative central nervous system (CNS) disorder (e.g., Alzheimer's or
Parkinson's Disease), epilepsy, mental retardation, or any other
disease/procedure/accident/intervention which, according to the screening clinician,
is deemed associated with significant injury to or malfunction of the CNS, or history
of significant head trauma within the past 2 years.
13. Presents with any of the following lab abnormalities:
1. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) outside of the normal limits and clinically
significant as determined by the investigator. Free thyroxine (T4) levels may be
measured if TSH level is high. Subject will be excluded if T4 level is clinically
significant.
2. Patients with diabetes mellitus fulfilling any of the following criteria:
i. Unstable diabetes mellitus defined as glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >8.5% at
screening.
ii. Admitted to hospital for treatment of diabetes mellitus or diabetes
mellitus-related illness in the past 12 weeks.
iii. Not under physician care for diabetes mellitus. iv. Has not been on the same dose
of oral hypoglycaemic drug(s) and/or diet for the 4 weeks prior to screening. For
thiazolidinediones (glitazones) this period should not be less than 8 weeks.
c. Any other abnormal laboratory result(s), clinically significant in the opinion of
the investigator, at the time of the screening.
14. History of hypothyroidism and has been on a stable dosage of thyroid replacement
medication for less than 2 months prior to screening. (Subjects on a stable dosage of
thyroid replacement medication for at least 2 months or more prior to screening are
eligible for enrollment.)
15. History of hyperthyroidism which was treated (medically or surgically) less than 6
months prior to screening.
16. History of positive screening urine test for drugs of abuse at screening: cannabinoids
(if the patient has a legitimate medical prescription for cannabis, patient must agree
to abstain during the entirety of the study and to have a negative test at baseline),
cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, opiates (unless use is in accordance with
guidance provided in Appendix 1, table of allowed and excluded medications).
17. Patients with exclusionary laboratory values (see Table 1) or requiring treatment with
exclusionary concomitant medications (see Appendix 1).
18. Patients with a history of narrow angle glaucoma.
19. Liver or renal Function Tests (LFTs) which meet the exclusion criteria in Table 1, or
a history of hepatic or renal dysfunction.
20. Self-reported history of a ketamine or hallucinogen abuse or misuse.
TABLE 1: EXCLUSIONARY SAFETY VALUES OF POTENTIAL CLINICAL CONCERN Hematology Leukocytes <2
or >17.5 x 103/mm3 Platelets <75 or >700 x 103/mm3 Chemistry Total bilirubin >2 times the
upper limit of the reference range AST* >2.5 times upper limit of the reference range ALT*
>2.5 times upper limit of the reference range GGT* >2.5 times upper limit of the reference
range Alk Phosphatase* >2.5 times upper limit of the reference range Creatinine >1.3 times
upper limit of the reference range BUN/Urea >1.3 times upper limit of the reference range
Glucose < 70 mg/dl or >2 times the limits of the reference range Uric acid >1.5 times upper
limit of the reference range
*LFTs higher than 2.5 times ULN will be exclusionary.
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