Study of ABX-002 for the Adjunctive Treatment of Depressive Episodes Associated With Bipolar Disorder in Adults

Last updated: January 16, 2026
Sponsor: Autobahn Therapeutics, Inc.
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Depression

Mood Disorders

Bipolar Disorder

Treatment

ABX-002

Clinical Study ID

NCT06869187
ABX-002-2002
  • Ages 18-65
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if ABX-002 added to participants' existing treatment(s) can improve clinical symptoms of depression and to learn about potential effects on brain chemistry that may correlate with antidepressive effects.

This is a single treatment arm, open-label, Phase 2 study of ABX-002 in up to30 adults with bipolar depression. A subset of these participants will undergo brain imaging. Five healthy volunteer participants will also be enrolled and receive no drug treatment, undergoing 2 imaging sessions to confirm instrument and test - retest method reliability control.

For bipolar disorder participants who are experiencing an episode of depression, the study will include 4 study periods:

  1. Screening Period of up to 5 weeks

  2. 6-week Treatment Period

  3. 2-week post dose Safety Follow-up Period.

  4. 6-month postdose targeted safety follow-up period

For healthy volunteers, the study will include 2 study periods:

  1. Screening Period of up to 3 weeks

  2. Imaging Period of up to 3 weeks.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria (For Bipolar Disorder Depression Patients):

  • Current diagnosis of bipolar disorder for at least 2 years

  • DSM-5-TR criteria for bipolar disorder based on Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 - Clinical Trials Version (SCID-5-CT) at Screening

  • Has a current depressive episode with or without mixed features, but not psychotic features, with duration ≥ 6 weeks and ≤ 24 months

  • 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression total score ≥ 22 at Screening and Baseline

  • Young Mania Rating Scale total score ≤ 12 at Screening and Baseline

  • For participants who will undergo brain imaging: Able to undergo imaging sessions using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/Imaging with no history of aborted scanning due to anxiety, claustrophobia, or unable to scan due to an incompatible implant/device

  • Taking at least one mood stabilizer (e.g., lithium, valproate, lamotrigine) and/or second-generation antipsychotic (SGA, atypical antipsychotic). All medications intended to treat the current episode of depression should be at an adequate and stable dose for ≥ 6 weeks prior to screening.

Exclusion Criteria (For Bipolar Disorder Depression Patients):

  • History of > 4 manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes within a one-year period (rapid cycler; DSM-5-TR) in the last 2 years

  • History of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (DSM-5-TR) or a psychotic disorder unrelated to bipolar disorder

  • Concurrent or history of active symptoms within the past 2 years of obsessive-compulsive disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder, according to DSM-5-TR criteria

  • Diagnosis of a personality disorder (DSM-5-TR)

  • Evident risk of suicide at Screening or Baseline

  • Inadequate response to more than 2 second-generation antipsychotic treatments (including their current treatment) in their current episode of depression in bipolar disorder despite an adequate dose and duration (> 6 weeks at approved or standard of care doses)

  • Received any course of deep brain stimulation in participant's lifetime or plans to receive deep brain stimulation during the study

  • Treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (for psychiatric/therapeutic purposes) or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or treatment with ketamine or esketamine for the current episode and received any of those treatments within 12 months prior to Screening

  • Started new psychotherapy or had a change in the intensity of psychotherapy within 6 weeks before Screening

  • Prior use of psychedelics for the treatment of depression

  • Refusal to abstain from consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol during the study

  • History of uncontrolled, clinically significant neurological (including prior cerebrovascular accident [stroke] or chronic seizures), cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, renal, hepatic, immunological, hematological, endocrine (including uncontrolled diabetes), or other medical disorder, including cancer

  • Current use of high dose (> 4 mg/day lorazepam equivalents) benzodiazepine anxiolytic and/or hypnotic medication

  • Cannabinoids (marijuana, cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol [THC], cannabidiol [CBD]) in any form or use frequency.

  • History or presence of cataract on ophthalmic examination (including slit-lamp), glaucoma, inflammatory eye disease prior ophthalmic surgical procedures or laser surgery in either eye.

Inclusion Criteria (For Healthy Volunteers):

  • In good health, based on medical history, physical examination (including neurological examination), vital sign measurements, and laboratory safety tests obtained at the Screening Visit

  • Able to undergo imaging sessions using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/Imaging, with no history of aborted scanning due to anxiety, claustrophobia, or an incompatible implant/device

Exclusion Criteria (Healthy Volunteers):

  • Mentally or legally incapacitated, has significant emotional problems at the time of the Screening Visit, or is expected to have potential for mental incapacitation during the conduct of the study

  • History of any illness (including psychiatric illness)

  • Participation in an investigational drug or device study where last dosing of previous drug is within 30 days

  • Prior use of psychedelics within the past year

  • Refusal to abstain from consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol during the study

  • Cannabinoids (marijuana, cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol [THC], cannabidiol [CBD]) in any form or use frequency are not allowed.

Study Design

Total Participants: 35
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: ABX-002
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
March 28, 2025
Estimated Completion Date:
March 13, 2026

Connect with a study center

  • Autobahn Site #213

    Walnut Creek 5406990, California 5332921 94596
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #201

    Cromwell, Connecticut 06416
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Autobahn Site #201

    Cromwell 4832121, Connecticut 4831725 06416
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #210

    Hartford 4835797, Connecticut 4831725 06106
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #212

    Miami 4164138, Florida 4155751 33014
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #215

    Chicago 4887398, Illinois 4896861 60622
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #216

    Worcester 4956184, Massachusetts 6254926 01608
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #208

    Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Autobahn Site #205

    Marlton, New Jersey 08053
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Autobahn Site #208

    Cherry Hill 4501198, New Jersey 5101760 08002
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #209

    Hamilton 5098765, New Jersey 5101760 08690
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #205

    Marlton 4502911, New Jersey 5101760 08053
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #203

    Brooklyn, New York 11235
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Autobahn Site #202

    New York, New York 10022
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Autobahn Site #204

    Staten Island, New York 10314
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Autobahn Site #203

    Brooklyn 5110302, New York 5128638 11235
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #202

    New York 5128581, New York 5128638 10022
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Autobahn Site #207

    New York 5128581, New York 5128638 10016
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #211

    New York 5128581, New York 5128638 10019
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #204

    Staten Island 5139568, New York 5128638 10314
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Autobahn Site #214

    Bellevue 5786882, Washington 5815135 98007
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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