Intranasal esketamine was more effective than placebo in the short term at reducing depressive symptoms in patients at imminent risk for suicide, with improvement over placebo apparent four hours after administration. Phase III studies are underway to determine whether it could be approved for immediate symptom relief in this population.
Abstract
A proof‐of‐concept study involving 68 participants found that intranasal esketamine was more effective than placebo in the short term in reducing depressive symptoms in patients at imminent risk for suicide. Improvement over placebo was apparent four hours after administration — an important finding given that conventional treatments for depression take substantially longer to generate an effect. Global Phase III studies of intranasal esketamine are now under way to determine if this could become an approved medication for immediate symptom relief for patients at imminent risk for suicide. Results of the preliminary analysis were published online April 16 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.