Provide signed informed consent which includes pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing
Have a diagnosis of MDD without psychotic features, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria, based on clinical assessment and confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)
Have a history of TRD within the past 5 years as documented by the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire (ATRQ) (5-year version). That is, within the past 5 years study participants must have had a clinically meaningful inadequate response (estimated < 50% improvement per Investigator/patient consensus and documented by the Investigator) to at least two treatment courses with antidepressant regimens. These must involve at least two different pharmacologic treatment classes and have been given at accepted therapeutic doses for an adequate duration (at least 6 weeks). One of these treatment failures must have occurred within the current episode
Note: Non-pharmacological treatment (eg, cognitive behavioral therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, acupuncture) are not counted as treatment regimen
To be eligible, patients must have DGM4 genotype results obtained from the designated Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) lab, and all eligible DGM4-positive patients and about 20% DGM4-negative patients will be randomly included by an IRT system in order to achieve the appropriate randomization ratio of DGM4-positive vs negative patients
Pregnancy conception limitations
Female patients must be postmenopausal or surgically sterile or, if of childbearing potential and the partner is not vasectomized (6 months minimum), must agree to use a medically acceptable form of contraception from the time of signing the informed consent form (ICF) through at least 60 days following the last administration of study drug. If only the barrier method is used, a double barrier must be employed. Postmenopausal women must have had ≥ 24 months of spontaneous amenorrhea. Surgically sterile women are defined as those who have had a hysterectomy, bilateral ovariectomy, or bilateral tubal ligation. All women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test result before administration of study drug
Male patients must be biologically incapable of having children (eg, vasectomized) or must agree to use the above forms of birth control for themselves and their partner from the time of signing the informed consent form through at least 120 days following the last administration of study drug
Be fluent in the local language
Male or female aged 18 to 70, inclusive, at time of enrollment
Have a HAMD-17 total score ≥ 21 at screening
Be willing to discontinue the use of antidepressant drugs (including over-the-counter medications to treat depression [eg, St John's Wort]) at least 5 half-lives (or at least 1 week for herbal or other over-the-counter medications for depression) prior to baseline (Day -1). For fluoxetine, a washout period of at least 3 weeks for ≤ 20 mg/day and at least 4 weeks for > 20 mg/day is required
Prior participation in a study with liafensine
Used any investigational drug product, device, or biologic within 6 months or five half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to baseline (Day -1)
A positive pregnancy test result or currently breastfeeding
Clinically significant illness (including chronic, persistent, or acute infection), medical/surgical procedure, or trauma within 30 days prior to screening or between screening and baseline (Day 1) as determined by the investigator
A history or presence of a clinically significant hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, immunologic, hematologic, dermatologic, or neurologic abnormality, or any other condition, that in the investigator's opinion, represent potential risk to the patient's safety, full participation in the study, or affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of liafensine
Yes for A history or presence of a clinically significant hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, immunologic, hematologic, dermatologic, or neurologic abnormality, or any other condition, that in the investigator's opinion, represent potential risk to the patient's safety, full participation in the study, or affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of liafensine exclusion criteria 5
No for A history or presence of a clinically significant hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, immunologic, hematologic, dermatologic, or neurologic abnormality, or any other condition, that in the investigator's opinion, represent potential risk to the patient's safety, full participation in the study, or affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of liafensine exclusion criteria 5
Not sure for A history or presence of a clinically significant hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, endocrine, respiratory, immunologic, hematologic, dermatologic, or neurologic abnormality, or any other condition, that in the investigator's opinion, represent potential risk to the patient's safety, full participation in the study, or affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of liafensine exclusion criteria 5
Presence of autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, untreated hepatitis C, active hepatitis B, or any other uncontrolled or unstable liver disease according to local guidance
Uncontrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection according to local guidance
One or more clinical laboratory evaluations are outside the reference range, at screening, that are in the investigator's opinion, of potential risk to the patient's safety
Uncontrolled abnormal thyroid function according to local guidance
Has at the Screening Visit
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels > 1.5x the upper limit of normal (ULN) at screening
Total bilirubin (TBL) > 2 mg/dL (34.2 μmol/L) at screening, unless there is an explained indirect hyperbilirubinemia, eg, Gilbert's syndrome
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) > 1.5x the ULN at screening. Note: Laboratory tests can be repeated to see if values return to normal range, but any such laboratory abnormality must be resolved by the Baseline Visit (Day -1)
Clinically significant vital sign abnormality at screening. This includes, but is not
limited to, the following, in the supine (after at least 5 min rest) and
standing (after 1 min and 3 min standing): systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg
diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg; or heart rate < 50 or > 90 beats per
ECGs containing any of the following readings
minute. If the initial blood pressure is ≥ 140/90 mmHg, the lowest value from
up to 3 additional attempts, which also must not be ≥ 140/90 mmHg, should be
used. Patients with symptomatic orthostatic hypotension, at the discretion of
investigator, will be excluded
Long QT syndrome
Corrected QT interval measurement according to the Fridericia rule (QTcF) > 450 msec for men and > 470 msec for women during controlled rest at screening, or history of long-QT syndrome
History of seizure, other than childhood febrile seizures
Left bundle branch block
History of clinically significant symptomatic orthostatic hypotension (ie, postural syncope)
Right bundle branch block with QRS duration > 140 ms
History of narrow angle glaucoma
Intraventricular conduction defect with QRS duration > 140 ms
Use of prescription or nonprescription medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, or cognitive enhancement (eg, methylphenidate, atomoxetine, modafinil, ginkgo biloba, and huperzine A) within 30 days prior to screening or between screening and baseline (Day -1)
Regular consumption of (eg, more days than not) excessive quantities of xanthine-containing beverages (eg, more than five cups of coffee or the equivalent per day) within 30 days prior to screening or between screening and baseline (Day -1)
History of clinically significant head trauma, including closed head injury with loss of consciousness, that is, in the opinion of the investigator, likely to affect central nervous system function
History of cancer within 2 years prior to screening or between screening and baseline (Day -1), except for non-metastatic basal and/or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
Moderate or severe alcohol use disorder or other substance use disorder (except nicotine or caffeine), within 6 months prior to screening, according to the DSM-5 criteria
Urine drug screen (UDS) positive for a drug of abuse, with the exception of cannabis in countries where it is legally available (see Table 3 for list of drugs of abuse). Where legal, prior use of cannabis is permitted provided the patient agrees to abstain from smoking or ingesting cannabis or cannabis products during the study
Use of potent inducers of CYP3A4 (eg, rifampin, rifabutin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital) within 2 weeks prior to baseline (Day-1)
Previous allogenic bone marrow transplant
Current diagnosis or history of a psychotic disorder, MDD with psychotic features, manic or hypomanic episode of bipolar or related disorders
Received non-leukocyte-depleted whole blood transfusion within 4 months prior to PGx testing at Screening
Current diagnosis of anxiety disorder (if primary), post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (if primary), intellectual disability (DSM-5 diagnostic code 319), borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, or narcissistic personality disorder according to the DSM-5 criteria, or any other psychiatric or neurologic disorder or symptom due to a general medical condition, that, in the judgement of the investigator, could pose undue risk to the patient or compromise the study
Yes for Current diagnosis of anxiety disorder (if primary), post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (if primary), intellectual disability (DSM-5 diagnostic code 319), borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, or narcissistic personality disorder according to the DSM-5 criteria, or any other psychiatric or neurologic disorder or symptom due to a general medical condition, that, in the judgement of the investigator, could pose undue risk to the patient or compromise the study exclusion criteria 41
No for Current diagnosis of anxiety disorder (if primary), post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (if primary), intellectual disability (DSM-5 diagnostic code 319), borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, or narcissistic personality disorder according to the DSM-5 criteria, or any other psychiatric or neurologic disorder or symptom due to a general medical condition, that, in the judgement of the investigator, could pose undue risk to the patient or compromise the study exclusion criteria 41
Not sure for Current diagnosis of anxiety disorder (if primary), post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (if primary), intellectual disability (DSM-5 diagnostic code 319), borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder, or narcissistic personality disorder according to the DSM-5 criteria, or any other psychiatric or neurologic disorder or symptom due to a general medical condition, that, in the judgement of the investigator, could pose undue risk to the patient or compromise the study exclusion criteria 41
Hospitalized or discharged from psychiatric ward within 8 weeks prior to the screening visit and planned hospitalization for any condition(s) during the study
Significant risk of suicide determined by
Acute suicidality as evidenced by answering "yes" to Question 5 ("In the Past Year") on the C-SSRS, indicating active suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent for suicide, at screening, or baseline (Day -1); or
History of suicidal behavior as indicated by a "yes" response on the Suicidal Behavior section of the C-SSRS ("In the past year") or
A score ≥ 5 on Item 10 (suicidal thoughts) of the MADRS at screening or baseline (Day -1); or
Has attempted suicide within 6 months prior to the initial screening visit
Currently employed by the sponsor or by a clinical trial site participating in this study, or a first-degree relative of an employee of the sponsor or of an employee at a participating clinical trial site