Efficacy and Safety Study of Vortioxetine (Lu AA21004) in Adults With Major Depressive Disorder

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of vortioxetine, once daily (QD), compared with placebo in adults with major depressive disorder.

The drug that was tested in this study is called Vortioxetine. Vortioxetine is being tested to treat depression in adults who have major depressive disorder (MDD). This study looked at MDD relief in people who took varying dosages of vortioxetine.

The study enrolled 462 patients. Participants were randomly assigned (by chance, like flipping a coin) to one of the three treatment groups-which remained undisclosed to the patient and study doctor during the study (unless there was an urgent medical need):

* Vortioxetine 10 mg
* Vortioxetine 20 mg
* Placebo (dummy inactive capsule) - this was a capsule that looked like the study drug but had no active ingredient.

All participants were asked to take one capsule at the same time each day throughout the study.

This multi-center trial was conducted in the United States. The overall time to participate in this study was up to 13 weeks. Participants made 9 visits to the clinic, and were contacted by telephone 4 weeks after the last dose of study drug for a follow-up assessment.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Suffers from a major depressive episode recurrent as the primary diagnosis according to the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria.
* Has a Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score of 26 or greater at Screening and Baseline Visits.
* Has a Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Illness (CGI-S) score of 4 or greater at Screening and Baseline Visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Has previously participated in a Lu AA21004 clinical study.
* Has 1 or more the following:

  * Any current psychiatric disorder other than Major Depressive Disorder as defined in the DSM-IV
  * Current or past history of: manic or hypomanic episode, schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder defined in the DSM-IV-TR.
  * Diagnosis of alcohol or other substance disorder (except nicotine and caffeine) as defined in the DSM-IV-TR that has not been in sustained full remission for at least years prior to screening (participant must also have negative urine drug screen prior to Baseline).
  * Presence or history of a clinically significant neurological disorder (including epilepsy)
  * Neurodegenerative disorder.
  * Any Axis II disorder that might compromise the study.
* Has a thyroid stimulating hormone value outside the normal range at the Screening Visit that is deemed clinically significant by the investigator.
* Has clinically significant abnormal vital signs as determined by the investigator.
* Has an abnormal Electrocardiogram.
* Has an alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase or total bilirubin level greater than 1.5 times the upper limits of normal.
* Has a previous history of cancer that had been in remission for less than 5 years prior to the first dose of study medication.
* Has a disease or takes medication that, in the opinion of the investigator, could interfere with the assessments of safety, tolerability, or efficacy.
* Has a known history of or currently has increased intraocular pressure or is at risk of acute narrow-angle glaucoma.
* Has a clinically significant unstable illness, for example, hepatic impairment or renal insufficiency, or a cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurological, rheumatologic, immunologic, infectious, skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders, or metabolic disturbance. For the purposes of this protocol the following conditions are considered unstable due to the potential impact on assessment of MDD response: pain disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and obstructive sleep apnea.
* Has a significant risk of suicide according to the investigator's opinion.