efficacy and safety study of spd489 in combination with an antidepressant in the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder

Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder

Summary: this study will examine spd489 in subjects aged 18-65 with major depressive disorder (mdd) who are taking certain types of antidepressants but continue to have residual depression symptoms. eligible patients will remain on their antidepressant but will be randomized to either receive supplemental spd489 or placebo (i.e. sugar pill). the purpose of this study is to help answer the following questions: * how safe is spd489 for the supplemental treatment of depression and what are the side effects that might be related to it? * can supplemental spd489 help patients who still have residual depression symptoms while taking an antidepressant? * how much spd489 should be given to patients with depression who are also taking an antidepressant? * how does spd489 compare to placebo in depressed patients who are also taking an antidepressant?


Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria 1. subject is able to provide written, personally signed, and dated informed consent to participate in the study before completing any study-related procedures. 2. subject is between 18 and 65 years of age. 3. subject has a primary diagnosis of non-psychotic mdd. 4. subject has a madrs total score \>/=24. 5. subject is willing and has an understanding and ability to fully comply with study procedures and restrictions defined in this protocol. 6. subject, who is female, must have a negative serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hcg) pregnancy test and a negative urine pregnancy test and agrees to comply with any applicable contraceptive requirements of the protocol. 7. subject is able to swallow a capsule. exclusion criteria: 1. subject whose current episode of mdd has not responded to an adequate treatment regimen with 2 or more approved single antidepressant agents. 2. subject who has a lifetime history of treatment resistant depression, defined as having not responded to adequate treatment with 2 or more treatment regimens. 3. subject has a current co-morbid psychiatric disorder that is either controlled with medications prohibited in this study or is uncontrolled and associated with significant symptoms. 4. subject has been hospitalized (within the last 12 months) for their current mdd episode. 5. subject has a current or lifetime history of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (adhd). 6. subject has a first degree relative that has been diagnosed with bipolar i disorder. 7. subject has a recent history (within the last 6 months) of suspected substance abuse or dependence disorder. 8. subject is considered a suicide risk, has previously made a suicide attempt within the past 3 years, or is currently demonstrating active suicidal ideation. 9. subject has a concurrent chronic or acute illness or unstable medical condition. 10. subject has a history of seizures (other than infantile febrile seizures), any tic disorder, or a current diagnosis and/or a known family history of tourette's disorder, serious neurological disease, history of significant head trauma, dementia, cerebrovascular disease, parkinson's disease, or intracranial lesions. 11. subject has known history of symptomatic cardiovascular disease, advanced arteriosclerosis, structural cardiac abnormality, cardiomyopathy, serious heart rhythm abnormalities, coronary artery disease, or other serious cardiac problems. 12. subject has a history of thyroid disorder that has not been stabilized on thyroid medication or treatment within 3 months prior to the screening visit. 13. subject has a known family history of sudden cardiac death or ventricular arrhythmia. 14. subject has glaucoma. 15. subject has any clinically significant ecg or clinical laboratory abnormalities. 16. subject has a history of moderate to severe hypertension. 17. current use of any other medications (including over-the-counter \[otc\], herbal or homeopathic preparations) that have central nervous system effects. 18. subject has the potential need to initiate or modify frequency of psychotherapy or to continue or initiate other treatments for depression, outside of those allowed in this protocol. 19. subject has had electroconvulsive therapy (ect) for the current depressive episode 3 months prior to the lead-in baseline visit. 20. the subject has a known or suspected intolerance or hypersensitivity to the investigational product. 21. the subject has a known or suspected intolerance, hypersensitivity, or contraindications to their assigned antidepressant treatments (escitalopram oxalate, sertraline hcl, venlafaxine hcl extended release, or duloxetine hcl). 22. subject has a positive urine drug result. 23. subject has a body mass index (bmi) of \ 40. 24. subject is female and is pregnant or nursing.