A Study to Investigate the Antidepressant Mechanism-of-action of JNJ-42847922 in Participants With Major Depressive Disorder

Janssen Research & Development, LLC140 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to explore if the magnitude of treatment effect (JNJ-42847922; placebo) on symptoms of depression (as measured by Hamilton rating scale for depression-17 \[HDRS17\], Sleep item-adjusted HDRS17, Anxiety/somatization factor score and the 6-item subscale from HDRS17 \[HAM-D6\]) differs across different levels of hyper-arousal status (characterized by Sleep parameters, ruminative response scale \[RRS\], Sleep and Worry visual analogue scale \[VAS\], quantitative electro-encephalography \[qEEG\], heart rate variability \[HRV\] and others).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

140

Conditions

Depressive Disorder, Major

Interventions

JNJ-42847922 20mg

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 55 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Have a body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 35 kilogram per meter square (kg/m\^2) inclusive (BMI = weight/height\^2) * Participants must be medically stable based on clinical laboratory tests, medical history, vital signs, and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at screening and baseline * Population specific: Participant must meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - fifth edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for MDD (international classification of diseases \[ICD\]-code F32.x and F33.x), without psychotic features, and confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 7.0; have a Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score greater than or equal to (\>=) 25 at screening and must not demonstrate a clinically significant change (that is, an improvement of greater than (\>) 20 percent (%) on their MADRS total score) from the screening to the second completion of MADRS by telephone at most 4 days before the baseline visit; Not currently receiving antidepressant drug therapy for \>= 2 weeks before screening * Men who are sexually active with a women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) and have not had a vasectomy must agree to use a barrier method of birth control * A woman of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and a negative urine pregnancy test before the first dose * A woman must agree not to donate eggs (ova, oocytes) for the purposes of assisted reproduction during the study and for at least 3 months after receiving the last dose of study drug Exclusion Criteria: * Has failed more than 2 treatments (no more than 20 percent (%) response) with a differing pharmacological mode of action despite an adequate dose and duration during a previous, or the current depressive episode * Has a diagnosis of Cushing's Disease, Addison's Disease, primary amenorrhea, or other evidence of significant medical disorders of the Hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis * Is pregnant or breast feeding * Participant has received an investigational drug (including investigational vaccines) or used an invasive investigational medical device within 60 days before the planned first dose of study drug, or has participated in 2 or more interventional clinical studies in the previous 1 year, or is currently enrolled in an interventional study * Participant is a man who plans to father a child while enrolled in this study or within 3 months after the last dose of study drug * Participant has a history of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV) positive, or other clinically active liver disease, or tests positive for HBsAg or anti-HCV at screening

Locations (14)

Artemis Institute for Clinical Research

San Diego, California, United States

Artemis Institute for Clinical Research

San Marcos, California, United States

Qps-Mra, Llc

Miami, Florida, United States

SGS Phase 1 Unit AZ St-Maarten

Mechelen, Belgium

Clinical Pharmacology Unit

Merksem, Belgium

Charite Research Organisation GmbH

Berlin, Germany

Emovis GmbH

Berlin, Germany

Fraunhofer-Institut für Toxikologie und Experimentelle Medizin

Hanover, Germany

Somni Bene GmbH

Schwerin, Germany

Centre for Human Drug Research

Leiden, Netherlands

...and 4 more locations

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change From Baseline in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 (HDRS17) Total Score

The HDRS17 is a Clinician-Administered rating scale designed to assess the severity of symptoms in participants diagnosed with depression with a total score range of 0 to 52. It is the most widely used symptom severity measure for depression. Each of the 17 items is rated by the clinician on either a 3- point (0 to 2) or a 5-point scale (0 to 4). The point scale uses a rating of 0 (absent), 1 (doubtful to mild), 2 (mild to moderate), 3 (moderate to severe), and 4 (very severe). Total score will be calculated by summing up the individual item score. The higher the score, the more severe the depression.

Time frame: Baseline up to Day 57

Change From Baseline in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 (HDRS17) Sleep Item-Adjusted Total Score

The HDRS17 is a Clinician-Administered rating scale designed to assess the severity of symptoms in participants diagnosed with depression with a score range of 0 to 52. It is the most widely used symptom severity measure for depression. Each of the 17 items is rated by the clinician on either a 3- point (0 to 2) or a 5-point scale (0 to 4). The point scale uses a rating of 0 (absent), 1 (doubtful to mild), 2 (mild to moderate), 3 (moderate to severe), and 4 (very severe). Higher scores indicate worsening. HDRS17 Sleep Item-Adjusted is derived from the HDRS17 scale excluding the 3 sleep items (4, 5, and 6) from the total score.

Time frame: Baseline up to Day 57

Change From Baseline in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17 (HDRS17) Anxiety/Somatization Factor Score

The HDRS17 anxiety/somatization factor derived from Cleary and Guy's factor analysis of the HDRS scale, includes six items from the original 17-item version: the items for psychic anxiety, somatic anxiety, gastrointestinal somatic symptoms, general somatic symptoms, hypochondriasis, and insight. Anxious depression is often defined as Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) with high levels of anxiety symptoms, as reflected in an anxiety/ somatization factor score greater than or equal to (\>=) 7. The score ranges from 0 to 18, with higher scores indicating greater severity of symptoms.

Time frame: Baseline up to Day 57

Change From Baseline in 6 Item Subscale From HDRS17 (HAM-D6) Score

The 6-Item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-6), derived by the sum of HAMD-17 items (the six items in the HAM-D6 are: depressed mood, guilt feelings, work and interests, psychomotor retardation, psychic anxiety, and general somatics \[tiredness and pains\]), evaluates "core" symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Total subscale scores range from 0 (normal) to 22 (severe). The higher the score, the more severe the depression.

Time frame: Baseline up to Day 57

Secondary Outcomes

Change From Baseline in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (QIDS-SR16)

The QIDS-SR16 is a patient reported measure designed to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. The total score ranges from 0 to 27. Using a scale of severity of depression of none, mild, moderate, severe, and very severe, corresponding QIDS-SR16 total scores are none 1 to 5, mild 6 to 10, moderate 11 to 15, severe 16 to 20 and very severe 21 to 27.

Time frame: Baseline up to Day 67

Association Between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) Symptoms and Signals of Hyper-Arousal

Association between major depressive disorder (MDD) symptoms and signals of hyper-arousal (as measured by electro-encephalography \[EEG\], polysomnography, and/or measures of autonomic arousal - heart rate variability) will be assessed by means of correlation analysis and mixed effect models.

Time frame: Baseline up to Day 67

Performance Score on a Cognitive Test Battery Evaluated by Symbol Digit Matching Test (SDMaT)

The SDMaT measures the time to pair abstract symbols with specific numbers. The test includes a coding key consisting of 9 abstract symbols, each paired with a number ranging from 1 to 9. Following the key, the participant is presented with randomly ordered symbols and is required to respond orally by naming the number or enter the number corresponding to each symbol as fast as possible using a keypad. The number of correct substitutions within 90 seconds is recorded by computerized cognitive test battery.

Time frame: Baseline

Performance Score on a Cognitive Test Battery Evaluated by Word List Recall Test (WLRT)

The WLRT used for the computerized test battery that measures person's ability to encode, consolidate, store, and retrieve verbal information and is a sensitive test of verbal learning and memory in a variety of disease states, including MDD. The memory test will include a list of 15 words presented aloud, one at a time, through the iPad. After the 15-word list is presented, the participant will be asked to verbally recall as many of the words as possible. The 15 word list and participant recall will be conducted 4 more times (total 5 times). After the 5th learning trial and recall, performance on the learning trials of the original word list and on the delayed recall will be considered as the primary scores. The computer tablet will record and score the participant's responses to the evaluation.

Performance Score on a Cognitive Test Battery Evaluated by Trail Making Test Form B (TMT-B)

The computerized (Revere.D) version of the TMT-B is modeled after the paper-and-pencil version of the test. The TMT-B measures divided attention and executive function (tracking and sequencing). The participant is instructed to draw a line to connect a set of 25 consecutively numbered and lettered circles, alternating sequentially between numbers and letters (that is, 1 A 2 B). The participant is instructed to work as quickly as possible while still maintaining accuracy. The TMT-B has acceptable reliability; reliability coefficients have typically been reported as exceeding 0.65. The TMT-B is sensitive to cognitive decline associated with MDD.

Time frame: Baseline

Change From Baseline in Bond & Lader (B&L) Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

The B\&L VAS is made up of 16 pairs of alternative descriptors of mood and attention at either end. The Bond-Lader of a 10 cm line. Participants will rate their feelings at the time of assessment by indicating the point on the line which best represent their mood. Each item is scored by measuring the position relative to the left hand end of the line and levels of anxiety, sedation, and dysphoria are then calculated from the combined scores of selected items. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with a high score reflecting a high level of anxiety, sedation or dysphoria.

Time frame: Baseline up to Day 57

Change From Baseline in Profile of Mood States (POMS)

The POMS measures individuals' mood states. The POMS measures individuals' mood states. This is a validated scale to measure positive and negative mood states. The POMS contains 30 items and assesses six identified mood factors: Tension-Anxiety, Depression-Ejection, Anger- Hostility, Vigor-Activity, Fatigue-Inertia, and Confusion-Bewilderment. Scoring of the instrument provides a global score of 0 to 120 or individual domain scores. Lower scores indicate better mood state. The POMS brief form is a simple self-rating instrument.

Time frame: Baseline up to Day 57

Percent Change From Baseline in Biomarker Levels

Percent change from baseline in biomarker includes high-sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin(IL) 6, IL10, IL1b, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, cortisol, growth hormone, adiponectin, leptin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R), insulin, glucose, adrenocorticotropic hormone, Kynurenine metabolites will be assessed.

Time frame: Day 36 to 40 (over 48 hours during Visit 6)