AzTrials
AzTrials

Sleep Apnea, ObstructivePhase 1NCT03796026

A Study to Assess the Effect of Seltorexant Compared to Placebo on Respiration During Sleep in Adult Participants With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

A Phase 1 study testing Seltorexant 40 mg in people with Sleep Apnea, Obstructive, run by Janssen Research & Development, LLC at 4 sites in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of multiple doses of seltorexant compared with placebo on respiration during sleep in adult participants with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 70 years
Conditions the study is for
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
What is being tested?
Seltorexant 40 mg
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
34 participants
Where
4 sitesUnited States
Study dates
4 Jan 2019to 14 Jun 2019
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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 70 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participant must be a women of non-childbearing potential (WONCBP) or man. A WONCBP is defined as: a) Postmenopausal (postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a postmenopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy; b) Permanently sterile (permanent sterilization methods include hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, bilateral tubal occlusion/ligation procedures, and bilateral oophorectomy
  • Meet the International Classification of Sleep Disorder diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) based on the investigator's assessment with or without sleep study. The OSA diagnosis can be confirmed by previous sleep studies, appropriate documentations (for example, medical records or letters from treating physicians) or documented conversation with the treating physician
  • Mild to moderate OSA, defined as AHI greater than or equal to (>=)5 to less than (<)30, based on screening polysomnography (PSG)
  • Body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 40 kilogram per meter square (kg/m^2) (inclusive) (BMI = weight/height^2)
  • Must be otherwise healthy based on physical examination, medical history, vital signs, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and clinical laboratory tests performed at screening. If there are abnormalities, they must be consistent with the underlying illness in the study population. If the results of the clinical laboratory tests are outside the normal reference ranges, the participant may be included only if the investigator judges the abnormalities from normal to be not clinically significant or to be appropriate and reasonable for the population under study

Who cannot join

  • Has a history of, or current signs and symptoms of, severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance <30 milliliter per minute [mL/min]); moderate to severe hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh Score >=7), significant or unstable cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurologic, hematologic, rheumatologic, immunologic, or endocrine disorders (including uncontrolled hypo- or hyperthyroidism or diabetes mellitus). Participants with diabetes mellitus who are under good control (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] <= 8.5 percent [%] and fasting glucose <=140 milligram per deciliter [mg/dL] at screening) may be eligible to participate if otherwise medically healthy, and if on a stable regimen of glucose-lowering medications for at least 2 months prior to screening
  • Screening PSG with oxygen (O2) saturation <=80% for >=5% of total sleep time (TST)
  • Screening PSG with >=10 periodic limb movements per hour associated with an arousal
  • Currently using or used within 7 days of screening a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a dental appliance, or home oxygen use for OSA, or required to use any of them for the duration of the study
  • Has other respiratory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma that need systemic and/or inhaled steroids, bronchiectasis, or emphysema, documented by history or physical examination

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 1 country.

United States4 sites
  • NeuroTrials Research, Inc.

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30342

  • CTI Clinical Trial and Consulting Services

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45212

  • AMR New Orleans, Formerly New Orleans Center for Clinical Research - New Orleans, an AMR company

    Knoxville, Tennessee, 37923

  • Clinilabs

    New York, New York, 10019

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Multi-Center, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multiple-Dose, 2-period, Crossover, Sleep Laboratory Study to Assess the Effect of Seltorexant Compared to Placebo on Respiration During Sleep in Adult Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of multiple doses of seltorexant compared with placebo on respiration during sleep in adult participants with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Being tested
Seltorexant 40 mg, Placebo
Medical subject headings
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Seltorexant 40 mgDrug

    Also called JNJ-42847922

    Seltorexant 40 mg capsules (over-encapsulated tablets) will be administered orally.

  • PlaceboDrug

    Matching placebo to seltorexant 40 mg capsules (over-encapsulated tablets) will be administered orally.

Study groups in NCT03796026
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Seltorexant Followed by PlaceboExperimentalParticipants will receive seltorexant (40 milligram [mg] capsules) once daily for 4 consecutive days, and after a washout period of 7 to 10 days, participants will receive matching placebo orally once daily for 4 consecutive days.
Receives: Drug: Seltorexant 40 mg; Drug: Placebo
Placebo Followed by SeltorexantExperimentalParticipants will receive placebo once daily for 4 consecutive days, and after a washout period of 7 to 10 days, participants will receive seltorexant (40 mg capsules) orally once daily for 4 consecutive days.
Receives: Drug: Seltorexant 40 mg; Drug: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) Score as Measured by Polysomnography (PSG)

    AHI score is used to indicate the severity of sleep apnea. The AHI is calculated by dividing the number of apnea events by the number of hours of sleep. The AHI values for adults are categorized as: Normal: AHI less than (<)5, Mild sleep apnea: 5 less than or equal to (<=) AHI <15, Moderate sleep apnea: 15<= AHI <30, and Severe sleep apnea: AHI greater than or equal to (>=)30.

    Measured: Day 4

Secondary outcomes (24)
  1. AHI Score as Measured by PSG

    AHI score is used to indicate the severity of sleep apnea. The AHI is calculated by dividing the number of apnea events by the number of hours of sleep. The AHI values for adults are categorized as: Normal: AHI <5, Mild sleep apnea: 5<= AHI <15, Moderate sleep apnea: 15<= AHI <30, and Severe sleep apnea: AHI >=30.

    Measured: Day 1 (Night)

  2. Mean Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) During Total Sleep Time (TST)

    The mean SpO2 during TST on Night 4 and Night 1 will be assessed by continuous finger pulse oximetry.

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  3. Mean SpO2 During Rapid Eye Movement (REM), Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM), and Awake Stages

    The mean SpO2 during REM, NREM and awake stages of sleep will be assessed by continuous finger pulse oximetry.

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  4. Percentage of Total Sleep Time with SpO2 less than 90 percent (%), 85%, and 80%

    The percentage of TST with SpO2 level less than 90%, 85%, and 80% during the night, assessed by continuous finger pulse oximetry will be reported.

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  5. Mean Latency to Persistent Sleep (LPS) as Assessed by PSG

    LPS is a sleep parameter and will be measured by PSG during PSG screening. Elapsed time from the beginning of the PSG recording to the onset of the first 10 minutes of continuous sleep will be measured over 4 nights and the average time to sleep will be calculated.

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  6. Wake After Sleep Onset (WASO) by PSG

    WASO is a sleep parameter and will be measured by PSG during PSG screening. WASO is measured during overnight sleep laboratory PSG assessment and is defined as the duration of wakefulness from the onset of persistent sleep (that is, 10 consecutive minutes of sleep) over the first 6 hours of PSG assessment. The number of minutes in the Awake stage after the onset of persistent sleep to the end of the recording.

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  7. Sleep Efficiency (SE) by PSG

    SE is a sleep parameter and will be measured by PSG during PSG screening. The total sleep time divided by the total time in bed (that is, the number of minutes from the beginning of the PSG recording to the end of the recording).

    Measured: Days 1, 2, 3, and 4

  8. Total Sleep Time (TST)

    TST is a sleep parameter and will be measured by PSG during PSG screening. All of the hours of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, as measured by PSG, are summed to determine the TST.

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  9. Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep Latency

    REM sleep is a normal stage of sleep characterized by the rapid and random movement of the eyes. REM sleep latency is the time from sleep onset until first period of REM sleep. PSG recordings will be used to determine the time spent in different sleep stages (S1: light sleep, S2: light sleep, S3: deep sleep, and S4: REM sleep).

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  10. Total Duration of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep

    PSG recordings will be used to determine the time spent in different sleep stages (S1: light sleep, S2: light sleep, S3: deep sleep, and S4: REM sleep). It will be calculated as number of epochs scored as REM sleep divided by 2.

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  11. NREM Sleep Latency

    NREM sleep latency is the time from sleep onset until first period of NREM sleep. Polysomnographic recordings will be used to determine the time spent in different sleep stages (S1: light sleep, S2: light sleep, S3: deep sleep, and S4: NREM sleep).

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  12. Total Duration of NREM Sleep

    Polysomnographic recordings will be used to determine the time spent in different sleep stages (S1: light sleep, S2: light sleep, S3: deep sleep, and S4: NREM sleep). It will be calculated as number of epochs scored as NREM sleep divided by 2.

    Measured: Nights 1 and 4

  13. Number of Participants with Adverse Events (AEs) as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a participant who received study drug without regard to possibility of causal relationship. A serious adverse event (SAE) is an AE resulting in any of the following outcomes or deemed significant for any other reason: death; initial or prolonged inpatient hospitalization; life-threatening experience (immediate risk of dying); persistent or significant disability/incapacity; congenital anomaly.

    Measured: Baseline up to end of study (approximately up to 9 weeks)

  14. Percentage of Participants with all Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) and Events of Special Interest

    An SAE is any AE that results in: death, persistent or significant disability/incapacity, requires inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization, is life-threatening experience, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect and may jeopardize participant and/or may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the outcomes listed above. All SAEs and events of special interest including cataplexy (sudden, transient episode of muscle weakness accompanied by conscious awareness), sleep paralysis (the experience of not being able to move, react, or speak when falling asleep/awakening), and complex, sleep-related behaviors/parasomnias such as confusional arousals, somnambulism (sleep walking), sleep terrors, bruxism (teeth grinding), sleep sex, sleep related eating disorder, sleep behavior disorder, and catathrenia (Rapid Eye Movement [REM]-associated end-inspiratory apnea/breath holding) will be reported.

    Measured: Baseline up to end of study (approximately up to 9 weeks)

  15. Number of Participants with Clinically Significant Vital Signs Abnormalities

    Number of participants with clinically significant abnormalities in the vital signs including temperature, pulse/heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure will be reported.

    Measured: Baseline up to end of study (approximately up to 9 weeks)

  16. Number of Participants with Clinically Significant Physical Examination Abnormalities

    Number of participants with clinically significant abnormalities in the physical examination including examination of height, body weight, and waist circumference will be reported.

    Measured: Baseline up to end of study (approximately up to 9 weeks)

  17. Number of Participants with Clinically Significant Electrocardiogram (ECG) Abnormalities

    Number of participants with clinically significant abnormalities in the ECG will be reported.

    Measured: Baseline up to end of study (approximately up to 9 weeks)

  18. Number of Participants with Clinically Significant Laboratory Abnormalities

    Blood samples for serum chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis will be collected for clinical laboratory testing.

    Measured: Baseline up to end of study (approximately up to 9 weeks)

  19. Number of participants with suicidal ideation measured using Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)

    C-SSRS is a clinician rated assessment of suicidal behavior and / or intent. Scale consists of 28 items in 4 sections: suicide behavior, actual attempts, suicidal ideation, and intensity of ideation. Suicidal ideation consists of 5 'yes/no' items: wish to be dead, non-specific active suicidal thoughts, active suicidal ideation with any methods (not plan) without intention to act, active suicidal ideation with some intent to act without specific plan, active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent. Only items with yes responses are listed. Worsening of suicidal ideation indicates an increase in severity of suicidal ideation from baseline.

    Measured: Baseline, Days 1, 2, 4, 5, and end of study (approximately 9 weeks)

  20. Bond-Lader Visual Analog Scales (B-L VAS) Score

    The B-L VAS is a patient-rated scale designed to assess the current level of sedation and consists of sixteen 100-milliliter (mm) VAS anchored by antonyms (Alert-Drowsy, Lethargic-Energetic). Scores are combined to form 3 mood factors: alertness, calmness, and contentedness. The score is measured from the left to a mark made on the line by the patient and ranges from 0 (alert) to 100 (drowsy).

    Measured: Baseline, Day 2, and Day 5

  21. Next-Day Residual Effect Measured by the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) Score

    The KSS is a patient reported assessment of level of drowsiness at the time of scale administration. This scale is focused mainly on the propensity to fall asleep and has a high validity in measuring sleepiness. It consists of a 9-point Likert scale with response options from: 1=very alert, 3=alert, 5=neither alert nor sleepy, 7=sleepy (but not fighting sleep), 9=very sleepy (fighting sleep).

    Measured: Baseline, Day 2, and Day 5

  22. Residual Effect on a Cognitive Test Battery Evaluated by Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)

    The SDMT is a widely used, paper-and-pencil assessment of complex scanning and visual tracking, requiring elements of attention, visuoperceptual processing, working memory, and cognitive/psychomotor speed. The test is viewed as a robust screening test for adult neuropsychological impairment and has been used to demonstrate worse cognitive functioning in patients with MDD. 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 write the number corresponding to each symbol as fast as possible. The number of correct substitutions within 90 seconds is recorded by examiner-administered cognitive test battery.

    Measured: Baseline and Day 5

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

    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.

    Measured: Baseline and Day 5

  24. Residual Effect on Cognitive Function Measured by Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)

    The HVLT-R, a measure of verbal learning and memory, is a 12-item word list recall test. Administration includes 3 learning trials, a delayed recall (20-minute) trial, and a 24-word recognition list (including 12 target and 12 foil words). The test administrator reads instructions and word lists aloud, and records words recalled/recognized by the participant. Three learning trials are combined to calculate a total recall score learning, delayed recall, and recognition trials.

    Measured: Baseline and Day 5

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted8 Jan 2019
  2. Study start4 Jan 2019
  3. Primary completion7 Jun 2019
  4. Study completion14 Jun 2019

Resources

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 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
34 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03796026
Sponsor's protocol ID
CR108576
Other IDs
42847922MDD1010
Status last verified
Apr 2025
First submitted
4 Jan 2019
Last updated
27 Apr 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: The data sharing policy of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson \& Johnson is available at www.janssen.com/clinical-trials/transparency. As noted on this site, requests for access to the study data can be submitted through Yale Open Data Access (YODA) Project site at yoda.yale.edu

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Seltorexant 40 mg in people with Sleep Apnea, Obstructive, run by Janssen Research & Development, LLC 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 5 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 27 Apr 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. 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 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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?

Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) Score as Measured by Polysomnography (PSG) (time frame: Day 4). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 27 Apr 2025.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in