Ketamine wafer could offer faster relief for depression and pain
NCT ID NCT07691372
First seen Jul 08, 2026 · Last updated Jul 09, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a new form of ketamine—a wafer that dissolves under the tongue—in healthy adults. Participants receive three different single doses (25 mg, 50 mg, and 75 mg) in a fixed order, with time between doses to clear the drug. Researchers measure how much ketamine enters the blood, how fast it is eliminated, and any side effects. The goal is to understand the drug's behavior in the body and its safety before testing in patients.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Wafermine™ (ketamine sublingual wafer)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a new way to deliver ketamine for conditions like depression or pain, with faster absorption and fewer side effects than current methods.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early Phase 1 study in only 14 healthy people, so results may not apply to patients. Ketamine can cause side effects like dizziness, nausea, or dissociation.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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About 14 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jun 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria 1. Clinically healthy participants (male and female) aged ≥ 18 to ≤ 65 years at the time of signing the informed consent. 2. Research participants with no history of clinically significant cardiac, endocrine, gastrointestinal, hematological, hepatic, immunological, metabolic, urological, pulmonary, neurological, dermatological, or renal diseases or comorbidity of significance at the discretion of the Principal Investigator (or his/her delegate). The following medical history are permitted at the discretion of the Principal Investigator: history of childhood asthma; prior history of cholecystectomy; history of eczema with no use of steroid creams for 3 months prior to screening; history of fully resolved gestational diabetes; current or history of ADHD, anxiety or antidepression ( stable condition with no use of antidepressants 6 months prior to screening) 3. Be able and willing to read, understand, sign, and date the Informed Consent Form prior to entering the study. 4. Have adequate venous access for blood sampling. 5. Female participants are eligible only if all the following contraceptive requirements are met: These requirements also apply to ova donation. * Women of non-childbearing potential (WONCBP) are not required to use contraception and are defined as women who meet at least one of the following criteria: * Have undergone surgical sterilisation (e.g., hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy), or * Are postmenopausal, defined as at least 12 consecutive months of amenorrhea without an alternative medical cause, with confirmation by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels at screening, where required. * Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to use highly effective methods of contraception, defined as methods with a failure rate of \<1% per year when used consistently and correctly, from screening until at least 33 days after the last administration of the investigational product. Acceptable highly effective methods of contraception include: * Combined (estrogen- and progestogen-containing) hormonal contraception (oral, intravaginal) associated with inhibition of ovulation * Progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral, injectable, or implantable) * Intrauterine device (IUD) * Intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS) * Bilateral tubal occlusion * Sexual abstinence, provided this is the participant's usual and preferred lifestyle * Not breastfeeding * Be willing to complete all study procedures, safety laboratory tests, lifestyle considerations, restrictions, and other study procedures. Participants of childbearing potential will be eligible only if they have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and a negative urine pregnancy test on Day -1 of each study period, agree to avoid pregnancy for the duration of the study, and are not breastfeeding * Male condom use is required in addition to hormonal contraception or other user-dependent methods, where applicable. Unacceptable Contraceptive Methods (Do Not Meet Requirements) * Condoms alone * Double barrier method * Female condoms * Female diaphragms * Dermal patches * Withdrawal / coitus interruptus * Cycle tracking * Periodic abstinence 6. Male contraceptive Requirements These requirements also apply to sperm donation; * Male participants must agree to use effective contraception or to remain abstinent (provided this is their usual and preferred lifestyle) from screening until at least 33 days after the last administration of the investigational product. * Male participants must also agree not to donate sperm during this period. * Surgically sterilized males are defined as: * Bilateral orchidectomy: no contraceptive requirements . * Bilateral vasectomy or documented azoospermia (≥90 days post-procedure): condom use is required only during intercourse with women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) * For non-sterilized males, the following contraceptive requirements apply: o Use of a male condom in combination with a highly effective method of contraception used by the female partner (WOCBP), as defined above * The following are also considered acceptable: * Same-sex relationships/intercourse only (no contraception required) * Abstinence, provided this is the participant's usual and preferred lifestyle 7. Body mass index between 18.5-30.0kg/m2 (inclusive) index. 8. Deemed able to read and understand English in order to communicate with research staff and complete protocol required questionnaires and forms. Exclusion Criteria Medical history 1. Research participants with inflammatory or ulcerative disease in the oral cavity that may affect the absorption of the sublingual presentation. 2. History of allergic reactions, anaphylactic reactions, severe systemic hypersensitivity, or any allergic reaction that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or his or her delegate, is likely to be exacerbated by the study drug. 3. History of hypersensitivity to ketamine or any of the WafermineTM excipients. 4. Elective procedures or surgeries scheduled after signing the Informed Consent Form and until the safety follow-up call \[3 days ± 1 day after the 36.0-hour third period is taken\]. 5. History of gastric bypass surgery/bariatric surgery or other gastrointestinal surgery or condition that may affect gastric emptying or absorption of the study drug. 6. A history of 6 previous months of psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, anxiety, acute psychosis, depression). A clinically significant history of psychiatric disorders (including but not limited to: schizophrenia, anxiety, acute psychosis, depression). Resolved psychiatric disorders (\>6 months before screening) may be included at the discretion of the Investigator or delegate). Risk of infection 7. Positive serology for hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 8. Presence of chronic, recurrent, or severe infection (e.g., pneumonia, sepsis) at the discretion of the Principal Investigator, within 90 days prior to the screening visit and between the screening visit and Day -1. 9. Presence of symptoms of bacterial, fungal, or viral infection (including upper respiratory tract infection) within 14 days prior to the screening visit and between screening and Day -1. Participants with local fungal infection (e.g., candidiasis, ringworm, tinea pedis) are eligible for reevaluation after successful treatment of the infection. 10. History of clinically significant condition involving the bladder or urinary tract, including frequent urinary tract infections (e.g. \> 2 per year), or current symptoms of bladder irritation such as frequent or urgent need to urinate or burning with urination. 11. Any immunization or vaccine administered within 30 days prior to Day 1. Laboratory assessment and results 12. Abnormal and clinically significant results at the discretion of the Principal investigator (or his/her delegate) in the laboratory tests and electrocardiogram of the screening visit. Laboratory values out of range and determined to be not clinically significant at the discretion of the Principal Investigator or his/her delegate may be repeated on one occasion, the subject may be enrolled if the repeated value is within the normal range. 13. Participants with aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or total bilirubin values ≥1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) at screening. Pre-medicated and concomitant medications 14. Participation in any other investigational study with drugs, biologics, medical devices, or treatment with an investigational product or therapy approved for investigational use within the 30 days prior to or 5 half-lives, whichever is greater, by Day -1. 15. Use of any Over-The-Counter (OTC)/non-prescribed drugs including vitamins, minerals, supplements or herbal medicines within 1 week of Period 1 study drug administration, or intake of prescribed drugs within 2 weeks of Period 1 study drug administration (or longer if the medication has a half-life long enough to potentially expose the healthy participant to any significant systemic exposure). \[Exception: hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives in female participants is allowed.\] 16. Use of drugs with enzyme-inducing properties (such as rifampicin and St John's Wort) or any drug known to be either a moderate or strong inhibitor of CYP3A4 or CYP2B6 within 3 weeks or 5 half-lives, whichever is greater, prior to treatment period 1 and throughout the study. Others 17. History of abuse or dependence on alcohol or illegal/recreational drugs during the development of the study. 18. Positive results on the urine drug screen or breath alcohol test at screening and/or pre-dose. \[Exception: a positive result on the urinary drug screen at screening only is allowed at the discretion of the Investigator provided the result can be reliably explained by recent medication and/or dietary history.\] 19. Current or recent use of tobacco or nicotine-containing products, defined as: * Any smoking or nicotine use (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vaping, chewing tobacco, etc.) within 30 days prior to screening, or * History of regular (daily) smoking, or * Casual/social smoking (\>5 cigarettes or equivalent per week on average in the past 6-12 months) * Participants with history of occasional smoking (≤5 cigarettes/week) may be considered if they can commit to full abstinence during the entire study period including from screening through inpatient stays, and pass all other eligibility criteria (at the discretion of the Principal Investigator). 20. Alcohol consumption 24 hours prior to Day -1. 21. Habitual alcohol consumption \> 14 units per week for men and \> 10 units per week for women. One unit is equivalent to 250 mL of beer, 25 mL of hard liquor, or 125 mL of wine. 22. Intake of beverages containing xanthines (coffee, tea, chocolate, cocoa, , cola) or charcoal-roasted foods 24 hours prior to Day -1. 23. Habitual consumption of more than 4 caffeinated beverages in a period of 24 hours. 24. Blood donation of one unit (approximately 450-500 mL) within the last 30 days prior to screening will be exclusionary. 25. Strenuous physical exercise (e.g., heavy lifting, weight training, calisthenics, and aerobic exercise) within 48 hours prior to Day-1. Walking at a normal pace is allowed. 26. Unwillingness or inability to comply with the requirements of the protocol. 27. Other unspecified reasons that, at the discretion of the Principal Investigator or the Sponsor, determine that the subject is not suitable for inclusion. 28. Participants who had been hospitalized in the 6 months prior to the screening visit.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Q-Pharm Pty Ltd.
Brisbane, Queensland, 4006, Australia
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