Depressive Disorder, MajorPhase 3AVENUENCT07227454
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Esketamine for Reduction of Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder
A Phase 3 study testing Esketamine and Midazolam in people with Depressive Disorder, Major, run by Janssen Research & Development, LLC at 49 sites in 7 countries.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well JNJ-54135419 works (efficacy) in addition to comprehensive standard of care (SoC) in rapidly reducing the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD, a mental disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities) as compared with… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 17 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Depressive Disorder, Major
- What is being tested?
- Esketamine and Midazolam
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 258 participants
- Where
- 49 sitesin 7 countries
- Study dates
- 8 Jan 2026to 15 Sep 2031
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 12 to 17 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Must meet diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition) (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) based upon clinical assessment and confirmed by the mini-international neuropsychiatric interview for children and adolescents (MINI-KID)
- Must have a clinical global impression - severity of suicidality - revised (CGI-SS-R) score of "Markedly" or greater (that is, greater than or equal to [>=] 4) at both screening and baseline (predose) visits
- Must have a children's depression rating scale - revised (CDRS-R) total score >= 58 at baseline (predose)
- In the physician's opinion, acute psychiatric hospitalization is clinically warranted due to subject's acute suicidality
- Must be medically stable based on physical examination, medical history, vital signs, and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at screening
Who cannot join
- Participant has a current DSM-5 diagnosis of bipolar (or related disorders), intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder
- Participant currently meets DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder
- Participant has a current or prior DSM-5 diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, or MDD with psychosis
- Participant has a history of seizure disorder
- Participant has known allergies, hypersensitivity, intolerance or contraindications to midazolam, esketamine or ketamine, or their excipients
Trial locations and contacts
49 sites in 7 countries. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
49 sites in 7 countries
United States12 sites, 12 recruiting
- Recruiting
Peachford Hospital-Atlanta Behavioral Research
Atlanta, Georgia, 30338
- Recruiting
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287
- Recruiting
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, 35294
- Recruiting
Boston Childrens Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, 02445
- Recruiting
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27514
- Recruiting
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219
- Recruiting
Bradley Hospital
East Providence, Rhode Island, 02915
- Recruiting
Endeavor Health Evanston Hospital
Evanston, Illinois, 60201
- Recruiting
John S Dunn Behavioral Sciences Center at UTHealth Houston
Houston, Texas, 77021
- Recruiting
Yale Child Study Center
New Haven, Connecticut, 06511
- Recruiting
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905
- Recruiting
Children's National Medical Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20010
Spain10 sites, 10 recruiting
- Recruiting
Hosp Univ Vall D Hebron
Barcelona, 08035
- Recruiting
Hosp. Clinic de Barcelona
Barcelona, 08036
- Recruiting
Hosp. Sant Joan de Deu
Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950
- Recruiting
Hosp. Gral. Univ. Gregorio Maranon
Madrid, 28009
- Recruiting
Hosp. Univ. La Paz
Madrid, 28046
- Recruiting
Fundacio Althaia Xarxa Assistencial Universitaria de Manresa
Manresa, 08243
- Recruiting
Hosp. Univ. Central de Asturias
Oviedo, 33011
- Recruiting
Clinica Univ. de Navarra
Pamplona, 31008
- Recruiting
Hosp.Univ.Parc Tauli
Sabadell, 08208
- Recruiting
Hosp. Univ. Marques de Valdecilla
Santander, 39008
Italy8 sites, 8 recruiting
- Recruiting
Presidio Ospedaliero Santa Marta e Santa Venera
Acireale, 95024
- Recruiting
Azienda Ospedaliera G. Brotzu
Cagliari, 09134
- Recruiting
AOU Meyer
Florence, 50134
- Recruiting
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia
Foggia, 71122
- Recruiting
G.Gaslini Institute
Genova, 16147
- Recruiting
Ospedale di Merano
Merano, 39012
- Recruiting
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Federico II
Naples, 80131
- Recruiting
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Sassari
Sassari, 07100
Brazil6 sites, 6 recruiting
- Recruiting
Sociedade Literaria e Caritativa Santo Agostinho Hospital Sao Jose
Criciúma, 88811 000
- Recruiting
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Hospital Universitario Onofre Lopes
Natal, 59012 300
- Recruiting
Instituto Apice
Salvador, 40170 108
- Recruiting
Centro Integrado Facili
São Bernardo do Campo, 09726 150
- Recruiting
Instituto de Pesquisa Pensi Sandra Mutarelli Setubal
São Paulo, 01 227 200
- Recruiting
Hospital Das Clinicas Da Faculdade De Medicina Da USP
São Paulo, 05403-900
Taiwan5 sites, 5 recruiting
- Recruiting
Mackay Memorial Hospital Tamsui Branch
New Taipei City, 251
- Recruiting
National Taiwan University Hospital
Taipei, 100
- Recruiting
Taipei Medical University Hospital
Taipei, 110
- Recruiting
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Taipei, 112
- Recruiting
Tri-Service General Hospital
Taipei, 114
Hungary4 sites, 4 recruiting
- Recruiting
Vadaskert Gyermek es Ifjusagpszichiatriai Korhaz es Szakambulancia
Budapest, 1021
- Recruiting
Debreceni Egyetem Klinikai Kozpont
Debrecen, 4031
- Recruiting
Petz Aladar Megyei Oktato Korhaz
Győr, 9023
- Recruiting
Szegedi Tudomanyegyetem
Szeged, 6720
Romania4 sites, 4 recruiting
- Recruiting
Spitalul Clinic de Psihiatrie Prof Dr Alexandru Obregia
Bucharest, 041914
- Recruiting
Spitalul Clinic de Urgenta pentru Copii Cluj Napoca
Cluj-Napoca, 400347
- Recruiting
Spitalul Clinic De Psihiatrie Doctor Gheorghe Preda
Sibiu, 550082
- Recruiting
Spitalul Clinic de Urgenta pentru Copii 'Louis Turcanu' Timisoara
Timișoara, 300329
About this study
Official title: A Double-blind, Randomized, Psychoactive Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Esketamine 84 mg in Addition to Comprehensive Standard of Care for the Rapid Reduction of the Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescent Participants With Acute Suicidal Ideation or Behavior
The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well JNJ-54135419 works (efficacy) in addition to comprehensive standard of care (SoC) in rapidly reducing the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD, a mental disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities) as compared with psychoactive placebo (does not contain JNJ-54135419) plus SoC in adolescent participants with acute suicidal ideation or behavior.
- Conditions
- Depressive Disorder, Major
- Being tested
- Esketamine, Midazolam, Oral Placebo, Intranasal Placebo
- Medical subject headings
- Depressive Disorder, Major
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
EsketamineDrug
Also called JNJ-54135419
Esketamine will be administered as intranasal solution.
MidazolamDrug
Midazolam will be administered as oral solution.
Oral PlaceboOther
Placebo will be administered as oral solution.
Intranasal PlaceboOther
Intranasal placebo will be administered as nasal solution.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intranasal Esketamine + Oral Placebo | Experimental | Participants will receive intranasal esketamine 84 milligrams (mg) along with oral placebo solution twice weekly for 4 weeks (Days 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, and 25). On Day 4 a decrease to intranasal esketamine 56 mg (in a blinded fashion per investigator's judgment) is permitted. Thereafter, dose may be flexed between 56 mg and 84 mg during the treatment period. Receives: Drug: Esketamine; Other: Oral Placebo |
| Intranasal Placebo + Oral Midazolam | Placebo comparator | Participants will receive oral midazolam (0.0625 milligrams per kilograms [mg/kg]) and intranasal placebo twice weekly for 4 weeks (Days 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, and 25). On Day 4 a sham decrease to esketamine 56 mg dose (in a blinded fashion per investigator's judgment) is permitted. Thereafter, sham dose may be flexed between 56 mg and 84 mg during the treatment period. Receives: Drug: Midazolam; Other: Intranasal Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from Baseline in Depressive Symptoms Measured by Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised (CDRS-R) Total Score at 24 Hours Post First Dose
The CDRS-R is a 17-item, clinician-reported outcome measure of children's depressive symptom severity. Out of the 17-item, 3 items were non-verbal behavior (listless speech, hypoactivity, and depressed affect) rated on a 5 point scale from 1 (no depression) to 5 (severe depression) and 14 items were rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 7 (severe depression), where higher score indicated more severe depression. The CDRS-R total score was the sum of the 17-tems score and it ranged from 17 (normal) to 113 (severe depression). Higher score indicated more severe depression and worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline (pre-dose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose (i.e., Day 2)
Secondary outcomes (13)
Change from Baseline in CDRS-R Total Score at Day 25
The CDRS-R is a 17-item, clinician-reported outcome measure of children's depressive symptom severity. Out of the 17-item, 3 items were non-verbal behavior (listless speech, hypoactivity, and depressed affect) rated on a 5-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 5 (severe depression) and 14 items were rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 7 (severe depression), where higher score indicated more severe depression. The CDRS-R total score was the sum of the 17-tems score and it ranged from 17 (normal) to 113 (severe depression). Higher score indicated more severe depression and worse outcome.
Measured: Baseline (predose on Day 1) and Day 25 (4 hours post dose)
Change from Baseline in Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Suicidality - Revised (CGI-SS-R) Score at 24 Hours Post First Dose
The CGI-SS-R is a single item clinician-rated measure of the severity of participants' suicidality. The CGI-SS-R asks clinicians to rate the severity of a participant's suicidality using a 7-point scale that ranges from 0 (normal, not at all suicidal) to 6 (among the most extremely suicidal patients). Higher scores indicate greater severity.
Measured: Baseline (pre-dose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose (i.e., Day 2)
Change From Baseline in Symptoms of MDD During the Double-Blind (DB) Treatment Phase as Measured by CDRS-R Total Score
The CDRS-R is a 17-item, clinician-reported outcome measure of children's depressive symptom severity. Out of the 17-item, 3 items were non-verbal behavior (listless speech, hypoactivity, and depressed affect) rated on a 5-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 5 (severe depression) and 14 items were rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 7 (severe depression), where higher score indicated more severe depression. The CDRS-R total score was the sum of the 17-tems score and it ranged from 17 (normal) to 113 (severe depression). Higher score indicated more severe depression and worse outcome.
Measured: From Baseline up to Day 25
Percentage of Participants with Remission of Depressive Symptoms During the DB Treatment Phase
Remission of depressive symptoms is defined as a CDRS-R total score of both less than or equal to (<=) 28 and <= 34 during the DB treatment phase. The CDRS-R is a 17-item, clinician-reported outcome measure of children's depressive symptom severity. Out of the 17-item, 3 items were non-verbal behavior (listless speech, hypoactivity, and depressed affect) rated on a 5 point scale from 1 (no depression) to 5 (severe depression) and 14 items were rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 7 (severe depression), where higher score indicated more severe depression. The CDRS-R total score was the sum of the 17-tems score and it ranged from 17 (normal) to 113 (severe depression). Higher score indicated more severe depression and worse outcome.
Measured: Up to Day 25
Percentage of Responders on Depressive Symptoms During the DB Treatment Phase
Responders on depressive symptoms is defined as >= 50 percent (%) improvement in CDRS-R total score from baseline during the DB treatment phase. The CDRS-R is a 17-item, clinician-reported outcome measure of children's depressive symptom severity. Out of the 17-item, 3 items were non-verbal behavior (listless speech, hypoactivity, and depressed affect) rated on a 5 point scale from 1 (no depression) to 5 (severe depression) and 14 items were rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 7 (severe depression), where higher score indicated more severe depression. The CDRS-R total score was the sum of the 17-tems score and it ranged from 17 (normal) to 113 (severe depression). Higher score indicated more severe depression and worse outcome.
Measured: Up to Day 25
Percentage of Participants with Resolution of Suicidality During the DB Treatment Phase
Participants with resolution of suicidality is defined as a score of 0 (normal, not at all suicidal) or 1 (questionably suicidal) on CGI SS-R, during the DB treatment phase. The CGI-SS-R asks clinicians to rate the severity of a participant's suicidality using a 7-point scale that ranges from 0 (normal, not at all suicidal) to 6 (among the most extremely suicidal patients). Higher score indicate greater severity.
Measured: Up to Day 25
Change From Baseline in Severity of Suicidality As Measured by Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Suicidality - Revised (CGI-SS-R) During the DB Treatment Phase
The CGI-SS-R is a single item clinician-rated measure of the severity of participants' suicidality. The CGI-SS-R asks clinicians to rate the severity of a participant's suicidality using a 7-point scale that ranges from 0 (normal, not at all suicidal) to 6 (among the most extremely suicidal patients). Higher score indicate greater severity.
Measured: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change From Baseline in Clinician-Reported Frequency of Suicidal Thinking (FoST-ClinRO) During the DB Treatment Phase
FoST-ClinRO is a clinician-rated measure used to assess a participant's frequency of suicidal thinking assessed during the DB treatment phase. The measure uses a 6-point Likert scale that ranges from 0=Never, to 5=All of the time to assess suicidal thinking frequency, where higher scores indicate a more severe condition.
Measured: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change from baseline in Patient-Reported Frequency of Suicidal Thinking (FoST-PRO) During the DB Treatment Phase
FoST-PRO is a single item participant reported measure of the frequency of one's suicidal thinking right now. The single item asks participants to rate the frequency with which they have suicidal thoughts (0 = I have no suicidal thoughts, 1 = I have suicidal thoughts a little of the time, 2 = I have suicidal thoughts some of the time, 3 = I have suicidal thoughts most of the time, and 4 = I have suicidal thoughts all of the time). Higher scores indicate greater severity.
Measured: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change from Baseline in Patient Health Questionnaire, 9-item Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-A) Total Score During the DB Treatment Phase
The PHQ-A is a modified version of the PHQ-9 scale, specifically designed to measure depressive symptom severity in adolescents. A 10-item version of the PHQ-A will be used in this study; the first 9 items assess depressive symptoms. Adolescents use a 4 point Likert scale to rate the severity of their symptoms over the past 2 weeks (range: 0 = not at all to 3 = nearly every day). The PHQ-A total score is the sum of all item responses. The total score can be used to classify adolescents based on the severity of their depressive symptoms: 0-4 (no or minimal depression), 5-9 (mild depression), 10-14 (moderate depression), 15-19 (moderately severe depression), and 20-27 (severe depression). The tenth PHQ-A item measures the degree to which adolescents experience functional difficulties due to their depressive symptoms. Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms.
Measured: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change From Baseline in KIDSCREEN-10 Total Score During the DB Treatment Phase
KIDSCREEN-10 is a global patient-reported outcome (PRO) measure of well-being and health-related quality of life in children and adolescents aged 8-18 years. It includes 10 items that measure the subjective health and psychological, mental and social well-being experiences of children and adolescents over the past week. The scores for the 10 items are summed to produce a total score. This total score can then be transformed into a T-score or percentile rank, based on normative data, to facilitate interpretation. The higher the total score, the better the reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Measured: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change from Baseline in Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S) Depressive Symptoms at 24 Hours Post First Dose
The PGI-S is a single PRO item that captures one's perceptions of the severity of his/her depressive symptoms over the past 24 hours. Participants will be asked to rate their disease severity using the following 5-point scale: 1 = None, 2 = Mild, 3 = Moderate, 4 = Severe, and 5 = Very severe. Higher scores indicate greater disease severity.
Measured: Baseline (predose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose (i.e., Day 2)
Change from Baseline in Clinical Global Impression - Severity Scale (CGI-S) Depressive Symptoms at 24 Hours Post First Dose
The CGI-S provides an overall clinician-determined summary measure of the severity of the participant's illness that considers all available information, including knowledge of the participant's history, psychosocial circumstances, symptoms, behavior, and the impact of the symptoms on the participant's ability to function. The CGI-S will be used to rate the overall severity of illness on a scale of 1 to 7. Considering total clinical experience with the depression population, a participant is assessed on severity of illness at the time of rating according to the following scale: 1=normal (not at all ill); 2=borderline ill; 3=mildly ill; 4=moderately ill; 5=markedly ill; 6=severely ill; 7=among the most extremely ill patients. Higher scores indicate greater severity.
Measured: Baseline (pre-dose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose (i.e., Day 2)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Nov 2025
- Study start8 Jan 2026
- Primary completion9 Apr 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Sep 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Depressive Disorder, MajorStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Janssen Research & Development, LLCThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 258 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Janssen Research & Development, LLC
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07227454
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 54135419SUI3003
- Other IDs
- 54135419SUI3003, 2024-518615-19-00
- Acronym
- AVENUE
- Status last verified
- Nov 2026
- First submitted
- 11 Nov 2025
- Last updated
- 3 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: The data sharing policy of Johnson \& Johnson Innovative Medicine is available at innovativemedicine.jnj.com/our-innovation/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
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Double-blind, Randomized, Psychoactive Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Intranasal Esketamine 84 mg in Addition to Comprehensive Standard of Care for the Rapid Reduction of the Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder in Adolescent Participants With Acute Suicidal Ideation or Behavior
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07227454
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AVENUE / 54135419SUI3003
- Conditions
- Depressive Disorder, Major
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 258 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Janssen Research & Development, LLCIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 8 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 9 Apr 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Sep 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 12 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well JNJ-54135419 works (efficacy) in addition to comprehensive standard of care (SoC) in rapidly reducing the symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD, a mental disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities) as compared with psychoactive placebo (does not contain JNJ-54135419) plus SoC in adolescent participants with acute suicidal ideation or behavior.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intranasal Esketamine + Oral Placebo | Experimental | Drug: Esketamine, Other: Oral PlaceboParticipants will receive intranasal esketamine 84 milligrams (mg) along with oral placebo solution twice weekly for 4 weeks (Days 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, and 25). On Day 4 a decrease to intranasal esketamine 56 mg (in a blinded fashion per investigator's judgment) is permitted. Thereafter, dose may be flexed between 56 mg and 84 mg during the treatment period. |
| Intranasal Placebo + Oral Midazolam | Placebo comparator | Drug: Midazolam, Other: Intranasal PlaceboParticipants will receive oral midazolam (0.0625 milligrams per kilograms [mg/kg]) and intranasal placebo twice weekly for 4 weeks (Days 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, and 25). On Day 4 a sham decrease to esketamine 56 mg dose (in a blinded fashion per investigator's judgment) is permitted. Thereafter, sham dose may be flexed between 56 mg and 84 mg during the treatment period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Must meet diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edition) (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) based upon clinical assessment and confirmed by the mini-international neuropsychiatric interview for children and adolescents (MINI-KID)
- Must have a clinical global impression - severity of suicidality - revised (CGI-SS-R) score of "Markedly" or greater (that is, greater than or equal to [>=] 4) at both screening and baseline (predose) visits
- Must have a children's depression rating scale - revised (CDRS-R) total score >= 58 at baseline (predose)
- In the physician's opinion, acute psychiatric hospitalization is clinically warranted due to subject's acute suicidality
- Must be medically stable based on physical examination, medical history, vital signs, and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at screening
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Participant has a current DSM-5 diagnosis of bipolar (or related disorders), intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder
- Participant currently meets DSM-5 criteria for borderline personality disorder
- Participant has a current or prior DSM-5 diagnosis of a psychotic disorder, or MDD with psychosis
- Participant has a history of seizure disorder
- Participant has known allergies, hypersensitivity, intolerance or contraindications to midazolam, esketamine or ketamine, or their excipients
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 |
|---|---|---|
| EsketamineAlso: JNJ-54135419Esketamine will be administered as intranasal solution. | Drug | Intranasal Esketamine + Oral Placebo |
| MidazolamMidazolam will be administered as oral solution. | Drug | Intranasal Placebo + Oral Midazolam |
| Oral PlaceboPlacebo will be administered as oral solution. | Other | Intranasal Esketamine + Oral Placebo |
| Intranasal PlaceboIntranasal placebo will be administered as nasal solution. | Other | Intranasal Placebo + Oral Midazolam |
Primary outcome
Change from Baseline in Depressive Symptoms Measured by Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised (CDRS-R) Total Score at 24 Hours Post First Dose
Time frame: Baseline (pre-dose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose (i.e., Day 2)
The CDRS-R is a 17-item, clinician-reported outcome measure of children's depressive symptom severity. Out of the 17-item, 3 items were non-verbal behavior (listless speech, hypoactivity, and depressed affect) rated on a 5 point scale from 1 (no depression) to 5 (severe depression) and 14 items were rated on a 7-point scale from 1 (no depression) to 7 (severe depression), where higher score indicated more severe depression. The CDRS-R total score was the sum of the 17-tems score and it ranged from 17 (normal) to 113 (severe depression). Higher score indicated more severe depression and worse outcome.
13 secondary outcomes
Change from Baseline in CDRS-R Total Score at Day 25
Time frame: Baseline (predose on Day 1) and Day 25 (4 hours post dose)
Change from Baseline in Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Suicidality - Revised (CGI-SS-R) Score at 24 Hours Post First Dose
Time frame: Baseline (pre-dose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose (i.e., Day 2)
Change From Baseline in Symptoms of MDD During the Double-Blind (DB) Treatment Phase as Measured by CDRS-R Total Score
Time frame: From Baseline up to Day 25
Percentage of Participants with Remission of Depressive Symptoms During the DB Treatment Phase
Time frame: Up to Day 25
Percentage of Responders on Depressive Symptoms During the DB Treatment Phase
Time frame: Up to Day 25
Percentage of Participants with Resolution of Suicidality During the DB Treatment Phase
Time frame: Up to Day 25
Change From Baseline in Severity of Suicidality As Measured by Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Suicidality - Revised (CGI-SS-R) During the DB Treatment Phase
Time frame: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change From Baseline in Clinician-Reported Frequency of Suicidal Thinking (FoST-ClinRO) During the DB Treatment Phase
Time frame: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change from baseline in Patient-Reported Frequency of Suicidal Thinking (FoST-PRO) During the DB Treatment Phase
Time frame: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change from Baseline in Patient Health Questionnaire, 9-item Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-A) Total Score During the DB Treatment Phase
Time frame: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change From Baseline in KIDSCREEN-10 Total Score During the DB Treatment Phase
Time frame: From Baseline up to Day 25
Change from Baseline in Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S) Depressive Symptoms at 24 Hours Post First Dose
Time frame: Baseline (predose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose (i.e., Day 2)
Change from Baseline in Clinical Global Impression - Severity Scale (CGI-S) Depressive Symptoms at 24 Hours Post First Dose
Time frame: Baseline (pre-dose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose (i.e., Day 2)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. The data sharing policy of Johnson \& Johnson Innovative Medicine is available at innovativemedicine.jnj.com/our-innovation/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
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Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
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.
49 sites in 7 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing Esketamine and Midazolam in people with Depressive Disorder, Major, run by Janssen Research & Development, LLC at 49 sites in 7 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 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 49 sites in United States, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Taiwan and 2 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Study Contact (844-434-4210, Participate-In-This-Study1@its.jnj.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from Baseline in Depressive Symptoms Measured by Children's Depression Rating Scale - Revised (CDRS-R) Total Score at 24 Hours Post First Dose (time frame: Baseline (pre-dose on Day 1) and 24 hours post first dose (i.e., Day 2)). 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 3 Nov 2026.