Recruiting
A Randomized Study of Azetukalner Versus Placebo in Major Depressive Disorder (X-NOVA3)
X-NOVA3 is a Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of azetukalner as a monotherapy in adult participants diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT07076407
PhasePHASE3
Enrollment450
SponsorXenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Age18 Years
SexALL
Conditions studied
Major Depressive Disorder
About this study
X-NOVA3 is a Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of azetukalner as a monotherapy in adult participants diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Interventions
- Drug: Azetukalner — Azetukalner 20 mg taken orally once a day with food (with the evening meal when possible) for 6 weeks
- Drug: Placebo — Placebo taken orally once a day with food (with the evening meal when possible) for 6 weeks
Primary outcomes
- Change from baseline in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, 17-item (HAMD-17) score at Week 6 (Baseline to Week 6)
Eligibility information
Key Inclusion Criteria:
* Adults ≥18 and ≤74 years of age and experienced their first major depressive episode (MDE) prior to 50 years of age
* Body Mass Index (BMI) ≤40 kg/m2
* Meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition Text Revised (DSM-5-TR) criteria for current major depressive disorder and is currently in an MDE, confirmed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)
* Participant's current MDE has a duration of ≥6 weeks and ≤24 months.
Key Exclusion Criteria:
* Participant has a primary diagnosis of a mood disorder other than MDD.
* Participant has a history of any of the following: MDD with psychotic or catatonic features; MDD with mixed features; Bipolar I or II disorder; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Schizophrenia, primary thought disorder, or other psychotic disorder.
* Participant has a current diagnosis of any of the following: MDD with seasonal pattern; Depression with peripartum or perimenopausal onset; Post traumatic stress disorder; Antisocial or borderline personality disorder (or presence of clinically significant borderline personality traits); Panic disorder and/or agoraphobia; ADHD treated with a psychostimulant, diagnosed during the current MDE, or with unstable symptoms, as judged by the investigator.
* Participant has a substance (excluding tobacco) or alcohol use disorder within the 12 months prior to screening.
* Participant has had an active suicidal plan/intent within the 6 months prior to screening, presence of suicidal behavior in the last 2 years, or \>1 suicide attempt \> 24 years of age.
* Participant has a history of non-suicidal self-harm behavior in the 12 months prior to screening.
* Participant has used antidepressants or other prohibited medications (including benzodiazepines), within the 2 weeks (4 weeks for fluoxetine) or within a period less than 5 times the drug's half-life, whichever is longer, prior to randomization.
* Participant has a history of non-response to ≥2 antidepressant drugs of adequate dose and duration in the current MDE as determined by the Antidepressant Treatment Response Questionnaire (ATRQ).
* Participants with medical conditions that may interfere with the purpose or conduct of the study
* Participant is pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.
Study locations
- Harmonex Neuroscience Research, Dothan, Alabama 36303 United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Huntsville Regional Medical Campus, Huntsville, Alabama 35801 United States
- Pillar Clinical Research, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712 United States
- SanRo Clinical Research Group, Bryant, Arkansas 72022 United States
- Clinical Innovations Inc, Bellflower, California 90706 United States
- Center for Neurohealth, La Jolla, California 93037 United States
- Artemis Institute for Clinical Research, San Diego, California 92103 United States
- California Neuroscience Research, Sherman Oaks, California 91403 United States
- Pacific Clinical Research Management Group, Upland, California 91786 United States
- Institute of Living, Hartford, Connecticut 06106 United States
Showing 10 of 50 reported sites. See the official listing for all locations.
Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.