Sign Out
Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics: Mechanism of action: Esketamine is the S-enantiomer of racemic ketamine. It is a non-selective, non-competitive, antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, an ionotropic glutamate receptor. Through NMDA receptor antagonism, esketamine produces a transient increase in glutamate release leading to increases in α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) stimulation and subsequently to increases in neurotrophic signalling which may contribute to the restoration of synaptic function in these brain regions involved with the regulation of mood and emotional behaviour. Restoration of dopaminergic neurotransmission in brain regions involved in the reward and motivation, and decreased stimulation of brain regions involved in anhedonia, may contribute to the rapid response.
Pharmacodynamic effects: Abuse potential: In a study of abuse potential conducted in recreational polydrug users (n=41), single doses of esketamine nasal spray (84 mg and 112 mg) and the positive control drug intravenous ketamine (0.5 mg/kg infused over 40 minutes) produced significantly greater scores than placebo on subjective ratings of "drug liking" and on other measures of subjective drug effects.
Clinical efficacy and safety: The efficacy and safety of SPRAVATO nasal spray was investigated in five Phase 3 clinical studies in adult patients (18 to 86 years) with treatment resistant depression (TRD) who met DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder and were non responders to at least two oral antidepressants (ADs) treatments, of adequate dosage and duration, in the current major depressive episode. 1,833 adult patients were enrolled, of which 1,601 patients were exposed to SPRAVATO.
Treatment resistant depression - Short term studies: SPRAVATO was evaluated in three Phase 3 short-term (4-week) randomised, double-blind, active-controlled studies in patients with TRD. Studies TRANSFORM-1 (TRD3001) and TRANSFORM-2 (TRD3002) were conducted in adults (18 to < 65 years) and Study TRANSFORM-3 (TRD3005) was conducted in adults ≥ 65 years of age. Patients in TRD3001 and TRD3002 initiated treatment with SPRAVATO 56 mg plus a newly initiated daily oral AD or a newly initiated daily oral AD plus placebo nasal spray on day 1. SPRAVATO dosages were then maintained on 56 mg or titrated to 84 mg or matching placebo nasal spray administered twice-weekly during a 4-week double-blind induction phase. SPRAVATO doses of 56 mg or 84 mg were fixed in Study TRD3001 and flexible in Study TRD3002. In Study TRD3005, patients (≥ 65 years) initiated treatment with SPRAVATO 28 mg plus a newly initiated daily oral AD or a newly initiated daily oral AD plus placebo nasal spray (day 1). SPRAVATO dosages were titrated to 56 mg or 84 mg or matching placebo nasal spray administered twice-weekly during a 4-week double-blind induction phase. In the flexible dose studies, TRD3002 and TRD3005, up titration of SPRAVATO dose was based on clinical judgement and dose could be down titrated based on tolerability. A newly initiated open-label oral AD (SNRI: duloxetine, venlafaxine extended release; SSRI: escitalopram, sertraline) was initiated on day 1 in all studies. The selection of the newly initiated oral AD was determined by the investigator based on the patient's prior treatment history. In all short-term studies, the primary efficacy endpoint was change in MADRS total score from baseline to day 28.
Baseline demographic and disease characteristics for patient in TRD3002, TRD3001, and TRD3005 are presented in Table 1.
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageIn the flexible dose study TRD3002, at day 28, 67% of the patients randomised to SPRAVATO were on 84 mg. In study TRD3002, esketamine plus a newly initiated oral AD demonstrated clinically meaningful and statistical superiority compared to a newly initiated oral AD (SNRI: duloxetine, venlafaxine extended release; SSRI: escitalopram, sertraline) plus placebo nasal spray (Table 2), and symptom reduction was observed as early as 24 hours post-dose.
In study TRD3001, a clinically meaningful treatment effect in change in MADRS total scores from baseline at the end of the 4-week induction phase was observed favouring SPRAVATO plus newly initiated oral AD compared with a newly initiated oral AD (SNRI: duloxetine, venlafaxine extended release; SSRI: escitalopram, sertraline) plus placebo nasal spray (Table 2). In Study TRD3001, the treatment effect for the SPRAVATO 84 mg plus oral AD group compared with oral AD plus placebo was not statistically significant.
In study TRD3005, at day 28, 64% of the patients randomised to SPRAVATO were on 84 mg, 25% on 56 mg, and 10% on 28 mg. In study TRD3005, a clinically meaningful but not statistically significant treatment effect in change in MADRS total scores from baseline at the end of the 4-week induction phase was observed favouring SPRAVATO plus newly initiated oral AD compared with a newly initiated oral AD (SNRI: duloxetine, venlafaxine extended release; SSRI: escitalopram, sertraline) plus placebo nasal spray (Table 2). Subgroup analyses suggest limited efficacy in the population over 75 years old. (See Table 2.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageResponse and remission rates: Response was defined as ≥ 50% reduction in the MADRS total score from baseline of the induction phase. Based on the reduction in MADRS total score from baseline, the proportion of patients in Studies TRD3001, TRD3002 and TRD3005 who demonstrated response to SPRAVATO plus oral AD treatment was greater than for oral AD plus placebo nasal spray throughout the 4-week double-blind induction phase (Table 3).
Remission was defined as a MADRS total score ≤ 12. In all three studies, a greater proportion of patients treated with SPRAVATO plus oral AD were in remission at the end of the 4-week double-blind induction phase than for oral AD plus placebo nasal spray (Table 3). (See Table 3.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageTreatment-resistant depression - Long-term studies: Relapse-prevention study: The maintenance of antidepressant efficacy was demonstrated in a relapse prevention trial. Study SUSTAIN-1 (TRD3003) was a long-term randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled, multicenter, relapse prevention study. The primary outcome measure to assess the prevention of depressive relapse was measured as time to relapse. Overall a total of 705 patients were enrolled; 437 directly enrolled; 150 transferred from TRD3001, and 118 transferred from TRD3002. Patients directly enrolled were administered SPRAVATO (56 mg or 84 mg twice weekly) plus oral AD in a 4-week open label induction phase. At the end of the open label induction phase, 52% of patients were in remission (MADRS total score ≤ 12) and 66% of patients were responders (≥ 50% improvement in MADRS total score). Patients who were responders (455), continued receiving treatment with SPRAVATO plus oral AD in a 12-week optimisation phase. After the induction phase, patients received SPRAVATO weekly for 4 weeks and starting from week 8, an algorithm (based on the MADRS) was used to determine the dosing frequency; patients in remission (i.e., MADRS total score was ≤ 12) were dosed every other week, however, if the MADRS total score increased to > 12, then the frequency was increased to weekly dosing for the next 4 weeks; with the objective of maintaining the patient on the lowest dosing frequency to maintain response/remission. At the end of 16 weeks of treatment period, patients in stable remission (n=176) or stable response (n=121) were randomised to continue with SPRAVATO or stop SPRAVATO and switch to placebo nasal spray. Stable remission was defined as MADRS total score ≤ 12 in at least 3 of the last 4 weeks of the optimisation phase and stable response was defined as ≥ 50% reduction in the MADRS total score from baseline for the last 2 weeks of the optimisation phase, but not in stable remission.
Stable remission: Patients in stable remission who continued treatment with SPRAVATO plus oral AD experienced a statistically significantly longer time to relapse of depressive symptoms than did patients on a newly initiated oral AD (SNRI: duloxetine, venlafaxine extended release; SSRI: escitalopram, sertraline) plus placebo nasal spray (Figure 1). Relapse was defined as a MADRS total score ≥ 22 for 2 consecutive weeks or hospitalisation for worsening depression or any other clinically relevant event indicative of relapse. The median time to relapse for a newly initiated oral AD (SNRI: duloxetine, venlafaxine extended release; SSRI: escitalopram, sertraline) plus placebo nasal spray group was 273 days, whereas the median was not estimable for SPRAVATO plus oral AD, as this group never reached 50% relapse rate. (See Figure 1.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageFor patients in stable remission, the relapse rate based on Kaplan-Meier estimates during the 12- and 24-weeks double-blind follow up period was 13% and 32% for SPRAVATO and 37% and 46% for placebo nasal spray, respectively.
Stable response: The efficacy results were also consistent for patients in stable response who continued treatment with SPRAVATO plus oral AD; patients experienced a statistically significantly longer time to relapse of depressive symptoms than did patients on a newly initiated oral AD (SNRI: duloxetine, venlafaxine extended release; SSRI: escitalopram, sertraline) plus placebo nasal spray (Figure 2). The median time to relapse for a newly initiated oral AD (SNRI: duloxetine, venlafaxine extended release; SSRI: escitalopram, sertraline) plus placebo nasal spray group (88 days) was shorter compared to SPRAVATO plus oral AD group (635 days). (See Figure 2.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageFor patients in stable response, the relapse rate based on Kaplan-Meier estimates during the 12- and 24-weeks double-blind follow up period was 21% and 21% for SPRAVATO and 47% and 56% for placebo nasal spray, respectively.
Enrollment in TRD3003 was staggered over approximately 2 years. The maintenance phase was of variable duration and continued until the individual patient had a relapse of depressive symptoms or discontinued for any other reason, or the study ended because the required number of relapse events occurred. Exposure numbers were influenced by the study stopping at a pre-determined number of relapses based on the interim analysis. After an initial 16 weeks of treatment with SPRAVATO plus oral AD, the median duration of exposure to SPRAVATO in the maintenance phase was 4.2 months (range: 1 day to 21.2 months) in SPRAVATO-treated patients (stable remission and stable response). In this study, 31.6% of patients received SPRAVATO for greater than 6 months and 7.9% of patients received SPRAVATO for greater than 1 year in the maintenance phase.
Dosing frequency: The dosing frequency used the majority of the time during the maintenance phase is shown in Table 4. Of the patients randomised to SPRAVATO, 60% received 84 mg and 40% received 56 mg dose. (See Table 4.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageTreatment-resistant depression - Short-term study in Chinese patients: The efficacy of SPRAVATO was also evaluated in a short-term (4-week) randomised, double-blind, active-controlled study (TRD3006) in 252 adult patients (224 Chinese patients, 28 non-Chinese patients) with TRD.
Patients received 4 weeks of induction treatment with flexibly dosed SPRAVATO (56 mg or 84 mg) or placebo nasal spray, in addition to a newly initiated oral AD. The primary efficacy endpoint was change in MADRS total score from baseline to day 28. The baseline demographic and disease characteristics of patients were similar between the SPRAVATO plus D and placebo nasal spray plus AD groups.
In study TRD3006, no statistically significant difference in change in MADRS total scores from baseline at the end of the 4-week induction phase was observed or SPRAVATO plus oral OD compared with oral AD plus placebo nasal spray (see Table 5.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageDepressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation or behavior: SPRAVATO was evaluated in two identical Phase 3 short-term (4-week) randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled studies, Study 3 (NCT03039192) and Study 4 (NCT03097133), in adults with moderate-to-severe MDD (MADRS total score >28) who had active suicidal ideation and intent. In these studies, patients received treatment with SPRAVATO 84 mg or placebo nasal spray twice-weekly for 4 weeks. After the first dose, a one-time dose reduction to SPRAVATO 56 mg was allowed for patients unable to tolerate the 84 mg dose. All patients received comprehensive standard of care treatment, including an initial inpatient psychiatric hospitalization and a newly initiated or optimized oral antidepressant (AD) (AD monotherapy or AD plus augmentation therapy) as determined by the investigator. After completion of the 4-week treatment period with SPRAVATO/placebo, study follow-up continued through Day 90.
The baseline demographic and disease characteristics of patients in Study 3 and Study 4 were similar between the SPRAVATO plus standard of care or placebo nasal spray plus standard of care treatment groups. The median patient age was 40 years (range 18 to 64 years), 61% were female; 73% Caucasian and 6% Black; and 63% of patients had at least one prior suicide attempt. Prior to entering the study, 92% of the patients were receiving antidepressant therapy. During the study, as part of standard of care treatment, 40% of patients received AD monotherapy, 54% of patients received AD plus augmentation therapy, and 6% received both AD monotherapy/AD plus augmentation therapy.
The primary efficacy measure was the change from baseline in the MADRS total score at 24 hours after first dose (Day 2). In Study 3 and Study 4, SPRAVATO plus standard of care demonstrated statistical superiority on the primary efficacy measure compared to placebo nasal spray plus standard of care (see Table 6).
Click on icon to see table/diagram/imageThe secondary efficacy measure was the change in Clinical Global Impression of Suicidal Severity - Revised (CGI-SS-r) score at 24 hours after first dose (Day 2). The CGI-SS-r is a one-item, clinician-rated assessment used to rate the current severity of a patient's suicidal ideation and behavior. Scores on the CGI-SS-r range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating more severe suicidal ideation and behavior. In Study 3 and Study 4, SPRAVATO plus standard of care did not demonstrate superiority compared to placebo nasal spray plus standard of care in improving CGI-SS-r.
Time Course of Treatment Response: In both Study 3 and Study 4, SPRAVATO's treatment difference compared to placebo was observed starting at 4 hours. Between 4 hours and Day 25, both the SPRAVATO and placebo groups continued to improve; the difference between the groups generally remained but did not appear to increase over time through Day 25. Figure 3 depicts time course of the primary efficacy measure of change in MADRS total score from Study 3. (See Figure 3.)
Click on icon to see table/diagram/image* Note: In Study 3, after the first dose, a one-time dose reduction to SPRAVATO 56 mg was allowed for patients unable to tolerate the 84 mg dose. Approximately 19% of patients had reduction in SPRAVATO dosage from 84 mg to 56 mg twice weekly.
Pharmacokinetics: Absorption: The mean absolute bioavailability of 84 mg esketamine administered as a nasal spray is approximately 48%.
Esketamine is rapidly absorbed by the nasal mucosa following nasal administration and can be measured in plasma within 7 minutes following a 28 mg dose. The time to reach maximum plasma concentration (tmax) is typically 20 to 40 minutes after the last nasal spray of a treatment session (see Dosage & Administration).
Dose-dependent increases in the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC∞) of esketamine nasal spray were produced by doses of 28 mg, 56 mg and 84 mg.
The pharmacokinetic profile of esketamine is similar after a single dose and repeat dose administration with no accumulation in plasma when esketamine is administered twice a week.
Distribution: The mean steady-state volume of distribution of esketamine administered by the intravenous route is 709 L.
The proportion of the total concentration of esketamine that is bound to proteins in human plasma is on average 43 to 45%. The degree to which esketamine is bound to plasma proteins is not dependent on hepatic or renal function.
Esketamine is not a substrate of transporters P-glycoprotein (P-gp; multidrug resistance protein 1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), or organic anion transporter (OATP) 1B1, or OATP1B3. Esketamine does not inhibit these transporters or multi-drug and toxin extrusion 1 (MATE1) and MATE2-K, or organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2), OAT1, or OAT3.
Biotransformation: Esketamine is extensively metabolised in the liver. The primary metabolic pathway of esketamine in human liver microsomes is N-demethylation to form noresketamine. The main cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes responsible for esketamine N-demethylation are CYP2B6 and CYP3A4. Other CYP enzymes, including CYP2C19 and CYP2C9, contribute to a much smaller extent. Noresketamine is subsequently metabolised via CYP-dependent pathways to other metabolites, some of which undergo glucuronidation.
Elimination: The mean clearance of esketamine administered by the intravenous route was approximately 89 L/hour. After Cmax was reached following nasal administration, the decline in esketamine concentrations in plasma was rapid for the first few hours and then more gradual. The mean terminal half-life following administration as a nasal spray generally ranged from 7 to 12 hours.
Following intravenous administration of radiolabelled esketamine, approximately 78% and 2% of administered radioactivity was recovered in urine and faeces, respectively. Following oral administration of radiolabelled esketamine, approximately 86% and 2% of administered radioactivity was recovered in urine and faeces, respectively. The recovered radioactivity consisted primarily of esketamine metabolites. For the intravenous and oral routes of administration, < 1% of the dose was excreted in the urine as unchanged drug.
Linearity/non-linearity: Esketamine exposure increases with dose from 28 mg to 84 mg. The increase in Cmax and AUC values was less than dose-proportional between 28 mg and 56 mg or 84 mg, but it was nearly dose proportional between 56 mg and 84 mg.
Interactions: Effect of other medicinal products on esketamine: Hepatic enzyme inhibitors: Pre-treatment of healthy subjects with oral ticlopidine, an inhibitor of hepatic CYP2B6 activity, (250 mg twice daily for 9 days prior to and on the day of esketamine administration) had no effect on the Cmax of esketamine administered as a nasal spray. The AUC∞ of esketamine was increased by approximately 29%. The terminal half-life of esketamine was not affected by ticlopidine pre-treatment.
Pre-treatment with oral clarithromycin, an inhibitor of hepatic CYP3A4 activity, (500 mg twice daily for 3 days prior to and on the day of esketamine administration) increase the mean Cmax and AUC∞ of nasally administered esketamine by approximately 11% and 4%, respectively. The terminal half-life of esketamine was not affected by clarithromycin pre-treatment.
Hepatic enzyme inducers: Pre-treatment with oral rifampicin, a potent inducer of the activity of multiple hepatic CYP enzymes such as CYP3A4 and CYP2B6, (600 mg daily for 5 days prior to esketamine administration) decreased the mean Cmax and AUC∞ values of esketamine administered as a nasal spray by approximately 17% and 28%, respectively.
Other nasal spray products: Pre-treatment of subjects with a history of allergic rhinitis and pre-exposed to grass pollen with oxymetazoline administered as a nasal spray (2 sprays of 0.05% solution administered at 1 hour prior to nasal administration of esketamine) had minor effects on the pharmacokinetics of esketamine.
Pre-treatment of healthy subjects with nasal administration of mometasone furoate (200 mcg per day for 2 weeks with the last mometasone furoate dose administered at 1 hour prior to nasal administration of esketamine) had minor effects on the pharmacokinetics of esketamine.
Effect of esketamine on other medicinal products: Nasal administration of 84 mg esketamine twice a week for 2 weeks reduced the mean plasma AUC∞ of oral midazolam (single 6 mg dose), a substrate of hepatic CYP3A4, by approximately 16%.
Nasal administration of 84 mg esketamine twice a week for 2 weeks did not affect the mean plasma AUC of oral bupropion (single 150 mg dose), a substrate of hepatic CYP2B6.
Special populations: Elderly (65 years of age and older): The pharmacokinetics of esketamine administered as a nasal spray was compared between elderly but otherwise healthy subjects and younger healthy adults. The mean esketamine Cmax and AUC∞ values produced by a 28-mg dose were 21% and 18% higher, respectively, in elderly subjects (age range 65 to 81 years) compared with younger adult subjects (age range 22 to 50 years). The mean esketamine Cmax and AUC∞ values produced by an 84-mg dose were 67% and 38% higher in elderly subjects (age range 75 to 85 years) compared with younger adult subjects (age range 24 to 54 years). The terminal half-life of esketamine was similar in the elderly and younger adult subjects (see Dosage & Administration).
Renal impairment: Relative to the subjects with normal renal function (creatinine clearance [CLCR], 88 to 140 mL/min), the Cmax of esketamine was on average 20 to 26% higher in subjects with mild (CLCR, 58 to 77 mL/min), moderate (CLCR, 30 to 47 mL/min), or severe (CLCR, 5 to 28 mL/min, not on dialysis) renal impairment following administration of a 28-mg dose of esketamine nasal spray. The AUC∞ was 13 to 36% higher in the subjects with mild to severe renal impairment.
There is no clinical experience with esketamine administered as a nasal spray in patients on dialysis.
Hepatic impairment: The Cmax and AUC∞ of esketamine produced by a 28-mg doses were similar between subjects with Child-Pugh class A (mild) hepatic impairment and healthy subjects. The Cmax and AUC∞ of esketamine were 8% higher and 103% higher, respectively, in subjects with Child-Pugh class B (moderate) hepatic impairment, relative to healthy subjects.
There is no clinical experience with esketamine administered as a nasal spray in patients with Child-Pugh class C (severe) hepatic impairment (see Dosage & Administration and Precautions).
Race: The pharmacokinetics of esketamine nasal spray was compared between healthy Asian subjects and Caucasian subjects. Mean plasma esketamine Cmax and AUC∞ values produced by a single, 56-mg dose of esketamine were approximately 14% and 33% higher, respectively, in Chinese subjects compared to Caucasians. Both parameters were approximately 40% higher in Japanese subjects, relative to Caucasian subjects. On average, esketamine Cmax was 10% lower and AUC∞ was 17% higher in Korean subjects, relative to Caucasian subjects. The mean terminal half-life of esketamine in the plasma of Asian subjects ranged from 7.1 to 8.9 hours and was 6.8 hours in Caucasian subjects.
Gender and body weight: No significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of esketamine nasal spray were observed for gender and total body weight (> 39 to 170 kg) based on population PK analysis.
Allergic rhinitis: The pharmacokinetics of a single, 56-mg dose of esketamine administered as a nasal spray was similar in subjects with allergic rhinitis who were exposed to grass pollen compared to healthy subjects.
Toxicology: Preclinical safety data: Non-clinical data reveal no special hazard for humans based on conventional studies of repeated dose toxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenic potential. Animal studies with ketamine showed evidence of developmental neurotoxicity. The potential for esketamine to have neurotoxic effects on developing foetuses cannot be excluded (see Use in Pregnancy & Lactation).
Genotoxicity: Esketamine was not mutagenic with or without metabolic activation in the Ames test. Genotoxic effects with esketamine were seen in a screening in vitro micronucleus test in the presence of metabolic activation. However, intravenously-administered esketamine was devoid of genotoxic properties in an in vivo bone marrow micronucleus test in rats and an in vivo Comet assay in rat liver cells.
Reproductive toxicity: In an embryo foetal developmental toxicity study with nasally administered ketamine in rats, the offspring was not adversely affected in the presence of maternal toxicity at doses resulting in exposure up to 6-fold higher than human exposure, based on AUC values. In an embryo foetal developmental toxicity study with nasally administered ketamine in rabbits, skeletal malformations were observed and foetal body weight was reduced at maternally toxic doses. Exposure in rabbits was in the region of human exposure based on AUC values.
Published studies in animals (including primates) at doses resulting in light to moderate anaesthesia demonstrate that the use of anaesthetic agents during the period of rapid brain growth or synaptogenesis results in cell loss in the developing brain, that can be associated with prolonged cognitive deficiencies. The clinical significance of these non-clinical findings in not known.
