Severe Postpartum DepressionPhase 2NCT02614547
A Study to Evaluate SAGE-547 in Participants With Severe Postpartum Depression
A Phase 2 study testing SAGE-547 in people with Severe Postpartum Depression, run by Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 4 sites in United States.
Trial summary
This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of SAGE-547 Injection in adult female participants diagnosed with severe postpartum depression. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 45 years, women only
- Conditions the study is for
- Severe Postpartum Depression
- What is being tested?
- SAGE-547
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 21 participants
- Where
- 4 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 15 Dec 2015to 22 Jun 2016
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 45 years
- Women only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participant either must have ceased lactating at Screening; or if still lactating at Screening, must have already fully and permanently weaned their infant(s) from breastmilk; or if still actively breastfeeding at Screening, must agree to cease giving breastmilk to their infant(s) prior to receiving study drug.
- Participant had a major depressive episode that began no earlier than the third trimester and no later than the first 4 weeks following delivery, as diagnosed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I).
- Participant was less than or equal to (<=) six months postpartum.
- Participant must be amenable to intravenous therapy.
Who cannot join
- Active psychosis.
- Attempted suicide associated with index case of postpartum depression.
- Medical history of seizures.
- Medical history of bipolar disorder.
- Note: suicidal ideation was not an exclusion. Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.
Trial locations and contacts
4 sites in 1 country.
United States4 sites
Sage Investigational Site
Atlanta, Georgia, 30342
Sage Investigational Site
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514
Sage Investigational Site
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
Sage Investigational Site
Worcester, Massachusetts, 01655
About this study
Official title: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating The Efficacy, Safety, And Pharmacokinetics Of SAGE-547 Injection In The Treatment Of Adult Female Subjects With Severe Postpartum Depression
This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of SAGE-547 Injection in adult female participants diagnosed with severe postpartum depression.
- Conditions
- Severe Postpartum Depression
- Being tested
- SAGE-547, Placebo
- Medical subject headings
- Depression, Postpartum
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
SAGE-547Drug
Administered as intravenous infusion.
PlaceboDrug
Administered as intravenous infusion.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Participants received infusion rates of placebo matched to SAGE-547. Receives: Drug: Placebo |
| SAGE-547 | Experimental | Participants received a 4-hour dose titration of 30 micrograms per kilogram per hour (micrograms/kg/hr) (0 to 4 hours), then 60 micrograms/kg/hr (4 to 24 hours), then 90 micrograms/kg/hr (24 to 52 hours), followed by a taper to 60 micrograms/kg/hr (52 to 56 hours), and 30 micrograms/kg/hr (56 to 60 hours). Receives: Drug: SAGE-547 |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change From Baseline at End of Treatment Period (at 60 Hours) in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) Total Score
The HAM-D total score comprises a sum of the 17 individual item scores. Items scored in a range of 0 to 2 include: insomnia (early, middle, late), somatic symptoms (gastrointestinal and general), genital symptoms, loss of weight, and insight. The following items are scored in a range of 0 to 4: agitation, depressed mood, feelings of guilt, suicide, work and activities, retardation, anxiety (psychic and somatic), and hypochondriasis. The total score can range from 0 to 52, and higher scores indicate a greater degree of depression. A negative change from baseline indicates less depression. A positive change from baseline indicates more depression.
Measured: Baseline, 60 Hours
Secondary outcomes (8)
Percentage of Participants With HAM-D Response
The HAM-D response was defined as having a 50 percent (%) or greater reduction from baseline in HAM-D total score. The HAM-D total score comprises a sum of the 17 individual item scores. Items scored in a range of 0 to 2 include: insomnia (early, middle, late), somatic symptoms (gastrointestinal and general), genital symptoms, loss of weight, and insight. The following items are scored in a range of 0 to 4: agitation, depressed mood, feelings of guilt, suicide, work and activities, retardation, anxiety (psychic and somatic), and hypochondriasis. The total score can range from 0 to 52, and higher scores indicate a greater degree of depression. A negative change from baseline indicates less depression. A positive change from baseline indicates more depression.
Measured: 60 Hours, Days 7 and 30
Percentage of Participants With HAM-D Remission
The HAM-D remission was defined as having a HAM-D total score of less than or equal to (<=)7. The HAM-D total score comprises a sum of the 17 individual item scores. Items scored in a range of 0 to 2 include: insomnia (early, middle, late), somatic symptoms (gastrointestinal and general), genital symptoms, loss of weight, and insight. The following items are scored in a range of 0 to 4: agitation, depressed mood, feelings of guilt, suicide, work and activities, retardation, anxiety (psychic and somatic), and hypochondriasis. The total score can range from 0 to 52, and higher scores indicate a greater degree of depression. A negative change from baseline indicates less depression. A positive change from baseline indicates more depression.
Measured: 60 Hours, Days 7, and 30
Change From Baseline in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score
The MADRS is a ten-item diagnostic questionnaire which psychiatrists use to measure the severity of depressive episodes in participants with mood disorders. It was designed as an adjunct to the HAM-D, to be more sensitive than the Hamilton Scale to the changes brought on by antidepressants and other forms of treatment. Each item yielded a score of 0 to 6. The MADRS total score was calculated as the sum of the 10 individual item scores, which ranged from 0 to 60. Higher MADRS scores indicate more severe depression. A negative change from baseline indicate less severe depression. A positive change from baseline indicates more severe depression.
Measured: Baseline, 60 Hours, Days 7 and 30
Percentage of Participants With Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Response
The CGI-I item employs a 7-point Likert scale to measure the overall improvement in the participant's condition post-treatment. The investigator rated the participant's total improvement whether or not it was due entirely to drug treatment. Response choices include: 0 = not assessed, 1 = very much improved, 2 = much improved, 3 = minimally improved, 4 = no change, 5 = minimally worse, 6 = much worse, and 7 = very much worse. The CGI-I was only rated at post-treatment assessments, and by definition, was evaluated against baseline conditions. CGI-I response was defined as having a CGI-I score of "very much improved" or "much improved".
Measured: 60 Hours, Days 7 and 30
Change From Baseline in HAM-D Bech 6 Subscale
The HAM-D Bech 6 subscale score was calculated as the sum of the following six items: depressed mood, feelings of guilt, work and activities, retardation, psychic anxiety, and general somatic symptoms. Each item is scored in a range of 0 to 2 or 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating a greater degree of depression. The scores were transformed to a scale of 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a greater degree of depression. A negative change from baseline indicates less depression. A positive change from baseline indicates more depression.
Measured: Baseline, 60 Hours, Days 7 and 30
Change From Baseline to 60 Hours in the HAM-D Individual Item Scores
The HAM-D comprises individual ratings of the following symptoms scored in a range of 0 to 2: insomnia (early, middle, late), somatic symptoms (gastrointestinal and general), genital symptoms, loss of weight, and insight. The following symptoms are scored in a range of 0 to 4: agitation, depressed mood, feelings of guilt, suicide, work and activities, retardation, anxiety (psychic and somatic), and hypochondriasis. Higher scores indicate a greater degree of depression. A negative change from baseline indicates less depression. A positive change from baseline indicates more depression.
Measured: Baseline, 60 Hours
Change From Baseline in Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7) Total Score
The GAD-7 is a participant-rated, generalized anxiety symptom severity scale. Scoring for GAD-7 generalized anxiety is calculated by assigning scores of 0 = "not at all sure," 1 = "several days," 2 = "over half the days," and 3 = "nearly every day" to the response categories. The GAD-7 total score for the seven items ranges from 0 to 21, where a score of 0 to 4 = minimal anxiety, 5 to 9 = mild anxiety, 10 to 14 = moderate anxiety, and 15 to 21 = severe anxiety. The GAD-7 total score was calculated as the sum of the seven individual item scores. A negative change from baseline indicates less anxiety. A positive change from baseline indicates more anxiety.
Measured: Baseline, 60 Hours, Day 7 and 30
Number of Participants With Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs)
An adverse event (AE) was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical investigation participant administered a drug; it did not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (eg, a clinically significant abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a drug, whether or not it is considered related to the drug. A TEAE was defined as an AE with onset on or after the start of study drug infusion, or any worsening of a pre-existing medical condition/AE with onset on or after the start of study drug infusion.
Measured: Up to 30 days
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Nov 2015 (estimated)
- Study start15 Dec 2015
- Primary completion22 Jun 2016
- Study completion22 Jun 2016
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Severe Postpartum DepressionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 21 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Stephen J Kanes, MD, PhD, Study chair, Sage Therapeutics
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02614547
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 547-PPD-202 A
- Status last verified
- Jan 2022
- First submitted
- 2 Nov 2015
- Last updated
- 15 Sep 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Data sharing will be consistent with the results submission policy of ClinicalTrials.gov.
Publications
Gerbasi ME, Meltzer-Brody S, Acaster S, Fridman M, Bonthapally V, Hodgkins P, Kanes SJ, Eldar-Lissai A. Brexanolone in Postpartum Depression: Post Hoc Analyses to Help Inform Clinical Decision-Making. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Mar;30(3):385-392. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8483. Epub 2020 Nov 12.
PubMed 33181049Kanes S, Colquhoun H, Gunduz-Bruce H, Raines S, Arnold R, Schacterle A, Doherty J, Epperson CN, Deligiannidis KM, Riesenberg R, Hoffmann E, Rubinow D, Jonas J, Paul S, Meltzer-Brody S. Brexanolone (SAGE-547 injection) in post-partum depression: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2017 Jul 29;390(10093):480-489. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31264-3. Epub 2017 Jun 12.
PubMed 28619476
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 15 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating The Efficacy, Safety, And Pharmacokinetics Of SAGE-547 Injection In The Treatment Of Adult Female Subjects With Severe Postpartum Depression
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02614547
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 547-PPD-202 A
- Conditions
- Severe Postpartum Depression
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 21 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 15 Dec 2015 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 22 Jun 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- 22 Jun 2016 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Nov 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 13 Sep 2021
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of SAGE-547 Injection in adult female participants diagnosed with severe postpartum depression.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: PlaceboParticipants received infusion rates of placebo matched to SAGE-547. |
| SAGE-547 | Experimental | Drug: SAGE-547Participants received a 4-hour dose titration of 30 micrograms per kilogram per hour (micrograms/kg/hr) (0 to 4 hours), then 60 micrograms/kg/hr (4 to 24 hours), then 90 micrograms/kg/hr (24 to 52 hours), followed by a taper to 60 micrograms/kg/hr (52 to 56 hours), and 30 micrograms/kg/hr (56 to 60 hours). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 45 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Participant either must have ceased lactating at Screening; or if still lactating at Screening, must have already fully and permanently weaned their infant(s) from breastmilk; or if still actively breastfeeding at Screening, must agree to cease giving breastmilk to their infant(s) prior to receiving study drug.
- Participant had a major depressive episode that began no earlier than the third trimester and no later than the first 4 weeks following delivery, as diagnosed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I).
- Participant was less than or equal to (<=) six months postpartum.
- Participant must be amenable to intravenous therapy.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Active psychosis.
- Attempted suicide associated with index case of postpartum depression.
- Medical history of seizures.
- Medical history of bipolar disorder.
- Note: suicidal ideation was not an exclusion. Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| SAGE-547Administered as intravenous infusion. | Drug | SAGE-547 |
| PlaceboAdministered as intravenous infusion. | Drug | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Change From Baseline at End of Treatment Period (at 60 Hours) in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) Total Score
Time frame: Baseline, 60 Hours
The HAM-D total score comprises a sum of the 17 individual item scores. Items scored in a range of 0 to 2 include: insomnia (early, middle, late), somatic symptoms (gastrointestinal and general), genital symptoms, loss of weight, and insight. The following items are scored in a range of 0 to 4: agitation, depressed mood, feelings of guilt, suicide, work and activities, retardation, anxiety (psychic and somatic), and hypochondriasis. The total score can range from 0 to 52, and higher scores indicate a greater degree of depression. A negative change from baseline indicates less depression. A positive change from baseline indicates more depression.
8 secondary outcomes
Percentage of Participants With HAM-D Response
Time frame: 60 Hours, Days 7 and 30
Percentage of Participants With HAM-D Remission
Time frame: 60 Hours, Days 7, and 30
Change From Baseline in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score
Time frame: Baseline, 60 Hours, Days 7 and 30
Percentage of Participants With Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Response
Time frame: 60 Hours, Days 7 and 30
Change From Baseline in HAM-D Bech 6 Subscale
Time frame: Baseline, 60 Hours, Days 7 and 30
Change From Baseline to 60 Hours in the HAM-D Individual Item Scores
Time frame: Baseline, 60 Hours
Change From Baseline in Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7) Total Score
Time frame: Baseline, 60 Hours, Day 7 and 30
Number of Participants With Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs)
Time frame: Up to 30 days
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 15 Sep 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 33181049Gerbasi ME, Meltzer-Brody S, Acaster S, Fridman M, Bonthapally V, Hodgkins P, Kanes SJ, Eldar-Lissai A. Brexanolone in Postpartum Depression: Post Hoc Analyses to Help Inform Clinical Decision-Making. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021 Mar;30(3):385-392. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8483. Epub 2020 Nov 12.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 28619476Kanes S, Colquhoun H, Gunduz-Bruce H, Raines S, Arnold R, Schacterle A, Doherty J, Epperson CN, Deligiannidis KM, Riesenberg R, Hoffmann E, Rubinow D, Jonas J, Paul S, Meltzer-Brody S. Brexanolone (SAGE-547 injection) in post-partum depression: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2017 Jul 29;390(10093):480-489. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31264-3. Epub 2017 Jun 12.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Data sharing will be consistent with the results submission policy of ClinicalTrials.gov.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Stephen J Kanes, MD, PhD study chair
Sage Therapeutics
4 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing SAGE-547 in people with Severe Postpartum Depression, run by Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 4 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 15 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 4 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 13 Sep 2021). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change From Baseline at End of Treatment Period (at 60 Hours) in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) Total Score (time frame: Baseline, 60 Hours). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02614547, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 15 Sep 2025.