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Depressive Disorder, MajorPhase 3VENTURA-2NCT05550532

A Study of Aticaprant 10 Milligrams (mg) as Adjunctive Therapy in Adult Participants With MDD With Moderate-to-severe Anhedonia and Inadequate Response to Current Antidepressant Therapy

A Phase 3 study testing Aticaprant in people with Depressive Disorder, Major and Anhedonia, run by Janssen Research & Development, LLC at 131 sites in 14 countries.

Completed

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

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of aticaprant compared with placebo as adjunctive therapy to an antidepressant in improving depressive symptoms in adult participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) with moderate to severe anhedonia (ANH+) who have had an inadequate response to current… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 74 years
Conditions the study is for
Depressive Disorder, Major, Anhedonia
What is being tested?
Aticaprant
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
444 participants
Where
131 sitesin 14 countries
Study dates
6 Dec 2022to 13 Nov 2024
Phase
Phase 3
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 74 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Be medically stable on the basis of physical examination, medical history, vital signs, and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at screening and baseline
  • Have a Hamilton depression rating Scale 17 item (HDRS-17) total score of 20 or higher at the first and second screening interviews and must not demonstrate a clinically significant improvement (that is, an improvement of more than 20 percent [%] on their HDRS-17 total score) between the first and the second independent HDRS-17 assessments
  • Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for recurrent or single episode major depressive disorder (MDD), without psychotic features, based upon clinical assessment and confirmed by the structural interview for DSM-5 Axis I disorders-clinical trials version (SCID-CT). Participants 65 years of age or older must have had the first onset of depression prior to 55 years of age
  • Is currently receiving and tolerating well any one of the following selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) for depressive symptoms at screening, in any approved formulation and available in the participating country/territory: citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, milnacipran, levomilnacipran, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine at a stable dose (at or above the minimum therapeutic dose per Massachusetts General Hospital Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire [MGH-ATRQ] for at least 6 weeks. The current antidepressant cannot be the first antidepressant treatment for the first lifetime episode of depression
  • Participant's current major depressive episode, and antidepressant treatment response in the current depressive episode, must all be confirmed by the Site Independent Qualification Assessment

Who cannot join

  • Have had in the current depressive episode, no response (treatment failure) to 5 or more antidepressant treatments including the current SSRI/SNRI (that is, the one presumed to be continued in the treatment phase) assessed using the MGH-ATRQ
  • Has a history or evidence of clinically meaningful noncompliance with current antidepressant therapy
  • Has a history of moderate-to-severe substance use disorder including alcohol use disorder according to diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-5th edition (DSM-5) criteria within 6 months before screening
  • Has had in the current episode an inadequate response to adequate course of intravenous or intranasal ketamine or esketamine, electroconvulsive therapy (that is, at least 7 treatments), vagal nerve stimulation, or deep brain stimulation device
  • Has current, or a history (past 6 months), of seizures
  • Has a current homicidal ideation/intent, per the investigator's clinical judgment, or has suicidal ideation with some intent to act within 3 months prior to the start of the Screening Phase, per the investigator's clinical judgment or based on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), corresponding to a response of "Yes" on Item 4 (active suicidal ideation with some intent to act, without specific plan) or Item 5 (active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent), or a history of suicidal behavior within the past 6 months prior to the start of the Screening Phase. Participants reporting suicidal ideation with intent to act or suicidal behavior at baseline should be excluded
  • Has one or more of the following diagnoses: a) A diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-5th edition (DSM-5) diagnosis (which has been the primary focus of psychiatric treatment within the past 2 years) of any of the following: panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder social anxiety disorder, specific phobia; b) A current (in the past year) DSM-5 diagnosis of: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa; c) A current or prior (lifetime) DSM-5 diagnosis of: a psychotic disorder or major depressive disorder (MDD) with psychotic features, bipolar or related disorders, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorders, somatoform disorders

Trial locations and contacts

131 sites in 14 countries.

131 sites in 14 countries

United States51 sites
  • Lehigh Center for Clinical Research LLC

    Allentown, Pennsylvania, 18103

  • Michigan Clinical Research Institute

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48105

  • Donald J Garcia Jr MD PA

    Austin, Texas, 78737

  • Northwest Clinical Research Center

    Bellevue, Washington, 98007

  • University of Alabama at Birmingham

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35205

  • Erie County Medical Center

    Buffalo, New York, 14215

  • Clinical Trials of South Carolina

    Charleston, South Carolina, 29406

  • New Hope Clinical Research

    Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211

  • The Cleveland Clinic Foundation

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44195

  • MCB Clinical Research Centers LLC

    Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80910

  • Wexner Medical Center at the Ohio State University

    Columbus, Ohio, 43221

  • CNS Clinical Research Group

    Coral Springs, Florida, 33067

  • Relaro Medical Trials

    Dallas, Texas, 75243

  • UT Southwestern Medical Center

    Dallas, Texas, 75247-9119

  • Conrad Clinical Research

    Edmond, Oklahoma, 73013

  • Core Clinical Research

    Everett, Washington, 98201

  • Revive Research Institute

    Farmington Hills, Michigan, 48334

  • Sarkis Clinical Trials

    Gainesville, Florida, 32607

  • CBH Health

    Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20877

  • New Life Medical Research Center, Inc.

    Hialeah, Florida, 33012

  • Sunwise Clinical Research

    Lafayette, California, 94549

  • Premier Psychiatric Research Institute, LLC

    Lincoln, Nebraska, 68526

  • K2 Medical Research

    Maitland, Florida, 32751

  • Tandem Clinical Research

    Marrero, Louisiana, 70072

  • Vital Care Research

    Miami, Florida, 33122

  • Global Medical Institutes

    Miami, Florida, 33125

  • LCC Medical Research Institute Inc

    Miami, Florida, 33126

  • Florida Research Center Inc.

    Miami, Florida, 33174

  • Ezy Medical Research

    Miami, Florida, 33175

  • Felicidad Medical Research

    Miami, Florida, 33184

  • Monroe Biomedical Research

    Monroe, North Carolina, 28112

  • Global Medical Institutes

    Moosic, Pennsylvania, 18507

  • Cedar Psychiatry

    Murray, Utah, 84107

  • Manhattan Behavioral Medicine

    New York, New York, 10036

  • Bravo Health Care Center

    North Bay Village, Florida, 33141

  • Sooner Clinical Research

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73112

  • Paradigm Research Professionals, LLC

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73118

  • Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists

    Orange, California, 92868

  • APG Research LLC

    Orlando, Florida, 32803

  • Combined Research Orlando

    Orlando, Florida, 32803

  • Quantum Laboratories

    Pompano Beach, Florida, 33064

  • CDC Research Institute LLC

    Port Saint Lucie, Florida, 34952

  • Prospective Research Innovations Inc

    Rancho Cucamonga, California, 91730

  • Midwest Research Group

    Saint Charles, Missouri, 63304

  • University of California San Diego Medical Center

    San Diego, California, 92103

  • CMB Clinical Trials

    Santee, California, 92071

  • California Neuroscience Research

    Sherman Oaks, California, 91403

  • Psychiatric Medicine Associates

    Skokie, Illinois, 60076

  • R and H Clinical Research

    Stafford, Texas, 77477

  • Pacific Clinical Research Medical Group

    Upland, California, 91786

  • Next Level Clinical Trials, LLC

    West Covina, California, 91790

Other trials in United States

China17 sites
  • Hebei Mental Health Center

    Baoding, 071000

  • Beijing Anding Hospital of Capital Medical University

    Beijing, 100088

  • Beijing Huilongguan Hospital

    Beijing, 100096

  • Peking University Sixth Hospital

    Beijing, 100191

  • The second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University

    Changsha, 410011

  • West China Hospital Sichuan University

    Chengdu, 610041

  • Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital

    Guangzhou, 510060

  • Huzhou third people's Hospital

    Huzhou, 313000

  • Shanghai Mental Health Center

    Shanghai, 200030

  • Tongji Hospital of Tongji University

    Shanghai, 200065

  • The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University

    Shijiazhuang, 050031

  • Suzhou Guangji Hospital

    Suzhou, 215003

  • Tianjin Anding Hospital

    Tianjin, 300222

  • Wuhan Mental Health Center

    Wuhan, 430000

  • Wuhu Hospital of Beijing Anding hospital

    Wuhu, 242407

  • XiAn Mental Healthcare Center

    Xi'an, 710061

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University

    Zhengzhou, 450052

Other trials in China

South Korea10 sites
  • Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital

    Bucheon-si, 14647

  • Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital

    Busan, 48108

  • CHA University ilsan Medical Center

    Goyang, 10414

  • Korea University Ansan Hospital

    Gyeonggi-do, 15355

  • KyungHee University Hospital

    Seoul, 02447

  • Korea University Anam Hospital

    Seoul, 02841

  • Asan Medical Center

    Seoul, 05505

  • Samsung Medical Center

    Seoul, 06351

  • The Catholic University of Korea Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital

    Seoul, 07345

  • Seoul National University Hospital

    Seoul, 3080

Other trials in South Korea

Argentina9 sites
  • Fundacion para el Estudio y Tratamiento de las Enfermedades Mentales

    Buenos Aires, C1133AAH

  • CEN Consultorios Especializados en Neurociencias

    Córdoba, 5000FJF

  • Instituto Medico DAMIC

    Córdoba, X5003DCE

  • Centro Medico Luquez

    Córdoba, X5006IKK

  • INSA Instituto de Neurociencias San Agustín

    La Plata, 1900

  • Clinica Privada de Salud Mental Santa Teresa de Ávila

    La Plata, Thanks

  • C I A P Centro de investigacion y Asistencia en Psiquiatria

    Rosario, 2000

  • Clinica Mayo de UMCB

    San Miguel de Tucumán, 4000

  • Clinica El Jardin

    Santiago del Estero, 4200

Other trials in Argentina

Slovakia8 sites
  • Psychomed-Svatosavsky, s.r.o.

    Banská Bystrica, 97401

  • Nemocnica s poliklinikou Prievidza so sidlom v Bojniciach

    Bojnice, 97201

  • Psychiatricka Ambulancia Mentum S.R.O.

    Bratislava, 82007

  • Epamed sro

    Košice, 040 11

  • Univerzitna nemocnica L. Pasteura Kosice

    Košice, 04190

  • Liptovska Nemocnica S Poliklinikou Mudr. Ivana Stodolu

    Liptovský Mikuláš, 03123

  • Psychiatricka Ambulancia Psycholine S.R.O.

    Rimavská Sobota, 97901

  • Crystal Comfort s.r.o.

    Vranov nad Topľou, 9301

Other trials in Slovakia

France6 sites
  • CHU de Brest - Hopital de la Cavale Blanche

    Bohars, 29820

  • CHU Clermont-Ferrand - Hopital Gabriel Montpied

    Clermont-Ferrand, 63000

  • Cabinet Medical des Drs Prizac-Desbonnet Scottez

    Douai, 59500

  • CHU de Nantes hotel Dieu

    Nantes, 44093

  • Hopital Sainte Anne

    Paris, 75674

  • CHRU de Tours Clinique Psychiatrique Universitaire

    Tours, 37044

Other trials in France

United Kingdom6 sites
  • University of Sussex

    Brighton, BN1 9RY

  • Royal Edinburgh Hospital

    Edinburgh, EH10 5HF

  • Institute of Psychiatry

    London, SE5 8AF

  • Renfrewshire CMHT

    Paisley, PA1 1JS

  • Moorgreen Hospital

    Southampton, SO30 3JB

  • Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team

    Wigan and Leigh, WN7 1YN

Other trials in United Kingdom

Bulgaria5 sites
  • MHC - Sofia, EOOD

    Sofia, 1202

  • DCC 'Sv. Vrach and Sv. Sv. Kuzma and Damyan', OOD

    Sofia, 1408

  • Medical Center Hera EOOD

    Sofia, 1510

  • Medical Center Intermedica, OOD

    Sofia, 1680

  • Diagnostic Consulting Center Mladost - M Varna

    Varna, 9020

Other trials in Bulgaria

Czechia4 sites
  • Psychiatricka ambulance, MUDr. Marta Holanova

    Brno, 61500

  • Neuroterapie KH S R O

    Kutná Hora, 284 01

  • Medical Services Prague S R O

    Prague, 16000

  • Institut Neuropsychiatricke pece

    Prague, 186 00

Other trials in Czechia

Poland4 sites
  • Clinsante Osrodek Badan Klinicznych

    Bydgoszcz, 85 794

  • Centrum Medyczne Care Clinic Katowice

    Katowice, 40568

  • Filip Rybakowski Specjalistyczna Praktyka Lekarska

    Poznan, 60-744

  • Indywidualna Specjalistyczna Praktyka Lekarska Agnieszka Remlinger Molenda

    Suchy Las, 62-002

Other trials in Poland

Taiwan4 sites
  • China Medical University Hospital

    Taichung, 40447

  • Taipei Medical University

    Taipei, 110

  • Taipei Veterans General Hospital

    Taipei, 11217

  • Cheng Hsin General Hospital

    Taipei, 112

Other trials in Taiwan

South Africa3 sites
  • Cape Town Clinical Research Centre

    Cape Town, 7530

  • Gert Bosch Pretoria South Africa

    Pretoria, 181

  • Somerset West Clinical Research Unit

    Strand, 7140

Other trials in South Africa

Brazil2 sites
  • Trial Tech Tecnologia em Pesquisas com Medicamentos

    Curitiba, 80240-280

  • Associacao Hospitalar Moinhos de Vento

    Porto Alegre, 90035-001

Other trials in Brazil

Canada2 sites
  • Alpha Recherche Clinique

    Québec, Quebec, G2J 0C4

  • DIEX Recherche Sherbrooke Inc

    Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1L 0H8

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter, Parallel-group, Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Aticaprant 10 mg as Adjunctive Therapy in Adult Participants With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) With Moderate-to-severe Anhedonia and Inadequate Response to Current Antidepressant Therapy

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of aticaprant compared with placebo as adjunctive therapy to an antidepressant in improving depressive symptoms in adult participants with major depressive disorder (MDD) with moderate to severe anhedonia (ANH+) who have had an inadequate response to current antidepressant therapy with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).

Read the detailed description

Depression is a common and serious psychiatric disorder which is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is associated with elevated mortality and suicide risk. Aticaprant (JNJ-67953964) is a once daily, highly selective kappa opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist, with demonstrated selectivity over mu opioid receptor (MOR) and delta opioid receptor (DOR) being developed for adjunctive treatment of MDD with ANH+. The total duration of the study will be up to 87 days. Safety evaluation including adverse events, physical examinations, urine drug test, alcohol breath tests and clinical laboratory tests will be assessed at specific time points during this study.

Being tested
Aticaprant, Placebo
Medical subject headings
Depressive Disorder, Major, Anhedonia

What participants receive

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

  • AticaprantDrug

    Also called JNJ-67953964

    Aticaprant tablet will be administered orally.

  • PlaceboOther

    Placebo tablet will be administered orally.

Study groups in NCT05550532
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
AticaprantExperimentalParticipants will receive Aticaprant 10 milligrams (mg) tablet orally, once daily for 42 days during double-blind (DB) treatment phase in addition to their current antidepressant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor/serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSRI/SNRI) therapy. Participants who will complete the DB treatment phase (Day 43) may be eligible to participate in a separate 52-week open-label long-term safety study 67953964MDD3003.
Receives: Drug: Aticaprant
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorParticipants will receive matching placebo tablet orally, once daily for 42 days during DB treatment phase in addition to their current antidepressant SSRI/SNRI therapy. Participants who will complete the DB treatment phase (Day 43) may be eligible to participate in a separate 52-week open-label long-term safety study 67953964MDD3003.
Receives: Other: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Change From Baseline to Day 43 in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score

    The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detect changes due to antidepressant treatment. The scale consists of 10 items (apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, reduced sleep, reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts), each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of symptoms). MADRS total score is the sum of scores from individual question items, which ranges from 0 to 60; higher scores represent a more severe condition. Negative change in MADRS total score indicates improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (Day 1) to Day 43

Secondary outcomes (11)
  1. Change From Baseline to Day 43 in Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS) Total Score

    The DARS is a 17-item self-report questionnaire that is designed to assess anhedonia in MDD across the 4 domains: hobbies, social activities, food/drink, and sensory experience. The DARS scale measures desire, motivation, effort, and consummatory pleasure. The DARS is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0=not at all, 1=slightly, 2=moderately, 3=mostly, 4=very much) and responses are summed to generate the total score (range of 0 to 68). A lower total score is indicative of greater anhedonia. Positive changes in DARS total score indicate improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (Day 1) to Day 43

  2. Change From Baseline Over Time in MADRS Total Score

    Change from baseline over time in MADRS total score is reported. The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detect changes due to antidepressant treatment. The scale consists of 10 items (apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, reduced sleep, reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts), each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of symptoms). MADRS total score is the sum of scores from individual question items, which ranges from 0 to 60; higher scores represent a more severe condition. Negative change in MADRS total score indicates improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (Day 1), Day 15, Day 29, and Day 43

  3. Percentage of Participants Who Achieved Response on Depressive Symptoms Scale Based on MADRS Total Score at Day 43

    Percentage of participants who achieved response on depressive symptoms scale based on MADRS total score at Day 43 are reported. Responders are defined as participants with a >=50 percent (%) improvement in the MADRS total score from baseline to a given timepoint. The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detect changes due to antidepressant treatment. The scale consists of 10 items (apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, reduced sleep, reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts), each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of symptoms). MADRS total score is the sum of scores from individual question items, which ranges from 0 to 60; higher scores represent a more severe condition. Negative change in MADRS total score indicates improvement.

    Measured: At Day 43

  4. Percentage of Participants With Remission of Depressive Symptoms Based on MADRS Total Score at Day 43

    Percentage of participants with remission of depressive symptoms based on MADRS total score at Day 43 is reported. Participant is defined as a remitter at a given time point if the MADRS total score is less than or equal to (<=)10 at that time point. The MADRS is a clinician-rated scale designed to measure depression severity and detect changes due to antidepressant treatment. The scale consists of 10 items (apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, reduced sleep, reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts), each of which is scored from 0 (item not present or normal) to 6 (severe or continuous presence of symptoms). MADRS total score is the sum of scores from individual question items, which ranges from 0 to 60; higher scores represent a more severe condition. Negative change in MADRS total score indicates improvement.

    Measured: At Day 43

  5. Change From Baseline to Day 43 in Patient Health Questionnaire, 9-Item (PHQ-9) Total Score

    Change from baseline to Day 43 in PHQ-9 total score is reported. The PHQ-9 is a 9-item, participant reported outcome measure to assess depressive symptoms. The scale scores each of the 9 symptom domains of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th Edition (DSM-5) MDD criteria. Each item is rated on a 4 point scale (0=not at all, 1=several days, 2=more than half the days, and 3=nearly every day). The participant's item responses are summed to provide a total score (range of 0 to 27), with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms. The severity of the PHQ-9 is categorized as follows: none-minimal (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), moderately severe (15-19) and severe (20-27). Negative changes in PHQ-9 total score indicate improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (Day 1) to Day 43

  6. Change From Baseline Over Time in DARS Total Score

    Change from baseline over time in DARS total score is reported. The DARS is a 17-item self-report questionnaire that is designed to assess anhedonia in MDD across the 4 domains: hobbies, social activities, food/drink, and sensory experience. The DARS scale measures desire, motivation, effort, and consummatory pleasure. The DARS is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0=not at all, 1=slightly, 2=moderately, 3=mostly, 4=very much) and responses are summed to generate the total score (range of 0 to 68). A lower total score is indicative of greater anhedonia. Positive changes in DARS total score indicate improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (Day 1), Days 15, 29, and 43

  7. Change From Baseline Over Time in the PHQ-9 Anhedonia-specific Item (PHQ-9, Item 1)

    Change from baseline over time in the PHQ-9 anhedonia-specific item (PHQ-9, item 1 is little interest or pleasure in doing things) is reported. The PHQ-9 is a 9-item, participant reported outcome measure to assess depressive symptoms. The scale scores each of the 9 symptom domains of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th Edition (DSM-5) MDD criteria. Each item is rated on a 4 point scale (0=not at all, 1=several days, 2=more than half the days, and 3=nearly every day). The participant's item responses are summed to provide a total score (range of 0 to 27), with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms. The severity of the PHQ-9 is categorized as follows: none-minimal (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), moderately severe (15-19) and severe (20-27). PHQ-9, item 1 score ranged from 0-3. Higher score indicates more severe disease. Negative change in PHQ-9, item 1 score indicates improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (Day 1), Day 15, Day 29, and Day 43

  8. Percentage of Participants With a Score Less Than (<) 2 in the PHQ-9 Anhedonia-specific Item (PHQ-9, Item 1) at Day 43

    Percentage of participants with a score <2 in the PHQ-9 anhedonia-specific item (PHQ-9, item 1 is little interest or pleasure in doing things) at Day 43 is reported. The PHQ-9 is a 9-item, participant reported outcome measure to assess depressive symptoms. The scale scores each of the 9 symptom domains of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th Edition (DSM-5) MDD criteria. Each item is rated on a 4 point scale (0=not at all, 1=several days, 2=more than half the days, and 3=nearly every day). The participant's item responses are summed to provide a total score (range of 0 to 27), with higher scores indicating greater severity of depressive symptoms. The severity of the PHQ-9 is categorized as follows: none-minimal (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), moderately severe (15-19) and severe (20-27).

    Measured: At Day 43

  9. Change From Baseline Over Time in Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Short Form - Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities - 8a (PROMIS-APS 8a)

    Change from baseline over time in the PROMIS-APS 8a is reported. This 8-item measure assesses participants' ability to participate in social roles and activities. The items measures the degree of involvement in social roles, activities, and responsibilities, including work, family, friends, and leisure. Each item is rated on a 5-point ordinal scale including 1=always, 2=usually, 3=sometimes, 4=rarely and 5=never, with higher scores indicating better social functioning. The total scores of PROMIS-APS 8a are scaled on a T-score metric with a mean of 50 and a standard deviation of 10. PROMIS-APS 8a total score ranges from 8 to 40 and T-score ranges from 25.9 to 65.4, a higher score indicates better social functioning. Positive change in score indicates improvement.

    Measured: Baseline (Day 1), Days 15, 29, and 43

  10. DB Treatment Phase: Percentage of Participants With Treatment Emergent Adverse Events (TEAEs)

    Percentage of participants with TEAEs during DB treatment phase are reported. An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant administered a medicinal (investigational or non-investigational) product. An AE does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the intervention. TEAE is defined as any AE occurring at or after the initial administration of study intervention through the end of DB phase.

    Measured: From start of treatment (Day 1) up to Day 43

  11. Follow-up (FU) Phase: Percentage of Participants With AEs

    Percentage of participants with AEs during FU phase are reported. An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant administered a medicinal (investigational or non-investigational) product. An AE does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the intervention.

    Measured: From Day 44 up to Day 57

Timeline

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

  1. First posted22 Sep 2022
  2. Study start6 Dec 2022
  3. Primary completion8 Nov 2024
  4. Study completion13 Nov 2024

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 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
444 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05550532
Sponsor's protocol ID
CR109230
Other IDs
67953964MDD3002, 2022-000461-41
Acronym
VENTURA-2
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
20 Sep 2022
Last updated
13 Feb 2026
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 3 study testing Aticaprant in people with Depressive Disorder, Major and Anhedonia, run by Janssen Research & Development, LLC at 131 sites in 14 countries.

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 7 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 13 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 131 sites in United States, China, South Korea, Argentina, Slovakia and 9 more countries. 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 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

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 2 Jan 2026). 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 to Day 43 in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total Score (time frame: Baseline (Day 1) to Day 43). 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 13 Feb 2026.

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