Depression drug trial halted: aticaprant fails to show promise for anhedonia
NCT ID NCT06514742
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether adding aticaprant to standard antidepressants could help people with major depression who still feel no pleasure (anhedonia). The trial was stopped early after enrolling only 101 participants. No results are available, so it is unknown if aticaprant works or is safe for this condition.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- aticaprant (a drug taken as a tablet)
- What this could lead to
- If it worked, this could offer a new option for people with depression who still feel no pleasure despite current antidepressants.
- What could go wrong
- The trial was terminated early, so results are limited. It is unclear if aticaprant is effective or safe for this use.
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 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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101 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jun 2024
- Finished
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Apr 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
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 64 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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: * Be medically stable based on physical examination (including a brief neurologic examination), medical history, vital signs (including blood pressure), and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at screening and double blind (DB) baseline * Meet diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-5th edition (DSM-5) diagnostic criteria for recurrent or single episode major depressive disorder (MDD), without psychotic features (DSM-5 296.22, 296.23, 296.32, or 296.33), based upon clinical assessment and confirmed by the structured clinical interview for DSM-5 axis I disorders-clinical trials version (SCID-CT) * Have symptoms of anhedonia based on clinical assessment and confirmed by presence of anhedonia (positive response to MDE module symptom Item 2) on the SCID-CT at screening * Have had an inadequate response to at least 1 and up to 5 (inclusive) oral antidepressant treatments, administered at an adequate dose * Is currently receiving and tolerating well any one of the following selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSRI or SNRI) antidepressants at screening, in any approved formulation and available in the participating country/territory: citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, milnacipran, levomilnacipran, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, or desvenlafaxine at a stable dose (at or above the minimum therapeutic dose per Massachusetts general hospital antidepressant treatment response questionnaire (MGH ATRQ) for at least 6 weeks. The current antidepressant cannot be the first antidepressant treatment for the first lifetime episode of depression Exclusion Criteria: * Has had no response (treatment failure) to 2 or more consecutive antidepressant treatments administered at an adequate dose (at or above the minimum therapeutic dose) and duration (at least 6 weeks) in the current episode of depression including the current SSRI/SNRI (that is the one to be continued in the treatment phases) assessed using the MGH ATRQ * Has one or more of the following diagnoses: (1) a current or prior (lifetime) DSM-5 diagnosis of: (a) a psychotic disorder or MDD with psychotic features, (b) bipolar or related disorders, (c) intellectual disability, (d) autism spectrum disorder, (e) borderline personality disorder, (f) antisocial personality disorder, (g) histrionic personality disorder, (h) narcissistic personality disorders, (i) somatoform disorders; (2) A primary DSM-5 diagnosis (which has been the primary focus of psychiatric treatment within the past 2 years) of: (a) panic disorder, (b) generalized anxiety disorder, (c) social anxiety disorder, (d) specific phobia; (3) A current (in the past year) DSM-5 diagnosis of: (a) obsessive-compulsive disorder, (b) post-traumatic stress disorder, (c) anorexia nervosa, (d) bulimia nervosa * Has a history or evidence of clinically meaningful noncompliance with current antidepressant therapy * Has a history of moderate-to-severe substance use disorder including alcohol use disorder according to DSM-5 criteria within 6 months before screening * Has in the current depressive episode had vagal nerve stimulation or deep brain stimulation device in the current episode or has had an inadequate response to an adequate course of intravenous or intranasal ketamine or esketamine (greater than \[\>\] 2 treatments), or electroconvulsive therapy (that is at least 7 treatments) * Has homicidal ideation/intent, per the investigator's clinical judgment, or has suicidal ideation with some intent to act within 3 months prior to the start of the screening phase, per the investigator's clinical judgment or based on the columbia suicidality severity rating scale (C-SSRS), corresponding to a response of "Yes" on Item 4 (active suicidal ideation with some intent to act, without specific plan) or Item 5 (active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent) for suicidal ideation on the C-SSRS, or a history of suicidal behavior within the past 6 months prior to the start of the screening phase. Participants reporting suicidal ideation with intent to act or suicidal behavior at DB baseline should be excluded
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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ATP Clinical Research
Orange, California, 92866, United States
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Accelerated Clinical Trials LLC
Peachtree Corners, Georgia, 30071, United States
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Advanced Research Center Inc
Anaheim, California, 92805, United States
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Affecta Pskyiatrimottagning
Halmstad, SE-30248, Sweden
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Anima
Alken, 3570, Belgium
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BR Trials
São Paulo, 01236030, Brazil
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Behavioral Research Specialists LLC
Glendale, California, 91206, United States
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Best Choice Medical and Research Service
Pembroke Pines, Florida, 33024, United States
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Brain Health Consultants
Houston, Texas, 77046, United States
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Bugat Pal Korhaz
Gyöngyös, 3200, Hungary
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CBH Health
Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20877, United States
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CI Trials
Bellflower, California, 90706, United States
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Centre Hospitalier Specialise Notre Dame Des Anges Asbl
Liège, 4000, Belgium
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Centre for Mental Health Prof.N.Shipkovenski EOOD
Sofia, 1377, Bulgaria
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Centro Integrado Facili
São Bernardo do Campo, 09726 150, Brazil
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Centro Salud Mental La Corredoria
Oviedo, 33011, Spain
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Centrum Badan Klinicznych PI House sp z o o
Gdansk, 80 546, Poland
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Centrum Zdrowia Alcea
Gdansk, 80 283, Poland
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Chu Tivoli
La Louvière, 7100, Belgium
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Clinical Research Services Turku - CRST
Turku, 20520, Finland
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Conrad Clinical Research
Edmond, Oklahoma, 73013, United States
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Corporacio Sanitari Parc Tauli
Sabadell, 08208, Spain
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DelRicht Research
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115, United States
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Dr Mathe es Tarsa Bt
Kalocsa, 6300, Hungary
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Elligo Independent Research Sites Mindful Behavioral Health
Boca Raton, Florida, 33431, United States
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Eszak Budai Szent Janos Centrumkorhaz
Budapest, 1125, Hungary
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Fieve Clinical Research Inc
New York, New York, 10017, United States
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Floridian Clinical Research LLC
Miami, Florida, 33135, United States
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Ginemedica Sp. z o.o.
Wroclaw, 50-414, Poland
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Gulfcoast Medical Research Center
Fort Myers, Florida, 33912, United States
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Gyor Moson Sopron Varmegyei Petz Aladar Egyetemi Oktato Korhaz
Győr, 9024, Hungary
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Hosp. Alvaro Cunqueiro
Vigo, 36312, Spain
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Hosp. Prov. de Zamora
Zamora, 49021, Spain
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Hosp. Virgen Del Rocio
Seville, 41013, Spain
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Hosp. de La Santa Creu I Sant Pau
Barcelona, 08025, Spain
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Hospital Ramon y Cajal
Madrid, 28034, Spain
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Humanity Clinical Research Corp
Aventura, Florida, 33180, United States
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IMA Clinical Research PC
Phoenix, Arizona, 85012, United States
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Institucion Hosp Hestia Palau
Barcelona, 08025, Spain
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Integrative Clinical Trials LLC
Brooklyn, New York, 11229, United States
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K2 Medical Research
Tampa, Florida, 33607, United States
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LCC Medical Research Institute Inc
Miami, Florida, 33126, United States
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Linkoping University Hospital
Linköping, 58185, Sweden
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Lumos Clinical Research Center LLC
San Jose, California, 95124, United States
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MCB Clinical Research Centers LLC
Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80910, United States
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MHC - Sofia, EOOD
Sofia, 1202, Bulgaria
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Meclinas
Mechelen, 2800, Belgium
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Medical Center Mentalcare OOD
Plovdiv, 4004, Bulgaria
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Medquest Translational Sciences
Miami Lakes, Florida, 33016, United States
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Mehilainen Finlayson
Tampere, 33210, Finland
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Mental Health Center Prof. Dr. Ivan Temkov
Burgas, 8001, Bulgaria
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NPCRS Nucleo de Pesquisa Clinica do Rio Grande do Sul
Porto Alegre, 90430001, Brazil
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Neuroscience Research Institute
West Palm Beach, Florida, 33407, United States
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New Hope Clinical Research
Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211, United States
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New Life Medical Research Center, Inc.
Hialeah, Florida, 33012, United States
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Noble Clinical Research
Tucson, Arizona, 85704, United States
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Northern Clinical Trial Coordinators
Oulu, 90100, Finland
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Northwest Clinical Research Center
Bellevue, Washington, 98007, United States
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OSU Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
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Osrodek Badan Klinicznych CLINSANTE S C
Torun, 87 100, Poland
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Osrodek Badan Klinicznych CLINSANTE S C Ewa Galczak Nowak Malgorzata Trzaska
Bydgoszcz, 85 794, Poland
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Oulu Mentalcare Oy
Oulu, 90100, Finland
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Patient Priority Clinical Sites LLC
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45215, United States
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Perceptive Pharma Research
Richmond, Texas, 77407, United States
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ProbarE i Lund AB
Lund, 22222, Sweden
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ProbarE i Stockholm AB
Stockholm, 113 29, Sweden
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Processus Kft
Budapest, 1137, Hungary
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PsychoTech Kft
Pécs, 7633, Hungary
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Pte Aok Pszichiatriai Klinika
Pécs, 7623, Hungary
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Red Oak Psychiatry Associates
Houston, Texas, 77090, United States
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Revival Research Institute LLC
McKinney, Texas, 75071, United States
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Savon Psykiatripalvelu
Kuopio, 70110, Finland
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Semmelweis Egyetem
Budapest, 1083, Hungary
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Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Springfield, Illinois, 62702, United States
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Studieenheten Akademiskt Specialistcentrum Stockholm
Stockholm, 113 61, Sweden
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Suburban Research Associates
Media, Pennsylvania, 19063, United States
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Sun Valley Research Center
Imperial, California, 92251, United States
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Sunwise Clinical Research
Walnut Creek, California, 94596, United States
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Terveystalo Ruoholahti
Helsinki, 00180, Finland
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Tolna Varmegyei Balassa Janos Korhaz
Szekszárd, 7100, Hungary
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UAB Huntsville Regional Medical Campus
Huntsville, Alabama, 35801, United States
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UTHealth Houston Center for Interventional Psychiatry
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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Universidade Federal do Ceara Hospital Universitario Walter Cantidio
Fortaleza, 60175 270, Brazil
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Viking Clinical Research Ltd
Temecula, California, 92591, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Zapping two brain regions may restore pleasure in depression
- Can brain activity reveal why some people with depression lose motivation and pleasure?
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- Could a new injection keep depression at bay for longer?