A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Pilot Trial of the Oral Selective NR2B Antagonist MK-0657 in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Major Depressive Disorder

A small pilot study tested the antidepressant efficacy and tolerability of an oral formulation of the selective NMDA NR2B antagonist MK-0657 in patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design, five patients completed both periods of MK-0657 monotherapy (4-8 mg/d) or placebo for 12 days. Significant antidepressant effects were seen as early as day 5 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory, but not on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, the primary measure. No serious or dissociative adverse effects occurred. The findings suggest MK-0657 may have antidepressant properties, but larger studies are needed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Converging lines of evidence suggest that the glutamatergic system may play an increasingly important role in the development of novel therapeutics for major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly agents associated with rapid antidepressant effects. Diverse glutamatergic modulators targeting N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors have shown efficacy in MDD, but their associated psychotomimetic effects presently preclude their use in larger samples. This small, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover pilot study evaluated the potential antidepressant efficacy and tolerability of an oral formulation of the selective N-methyl-D-aspartate NR2B antagonist MK-0657 in patients with treatment-resistant MDD (TRD). The TRD subjects underwent a 1-week drug-free period and were subsequently randomized to receive either MK-0657 monotherapy (4-8 mg/d) or placebo for 12 days. Because of recruitment challenges and the discontinuation of the compound's development by the manufacturer, only 5 of the planned 21 patients completed both periods of the crossover administration of MK-0657 and placebo. Significant antidepressant effects were observed as early as day 5 in patients receiving MK-0657 compared with those receiving placebo, as assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Beck Depression Inventory; however, no improvement was noted when symptoms were assessed with the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale, the primary efficacy measure. No serious or dissociative adverse effects were observed in patients receiving this oral formulation of MK-0657. Despite the small sample size, this pilot study suggests that an oral formulation of the NR2B antagonist MK-0657 may have antidepressant properties in TRD patients. Further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm these preliminary findings.