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NCT04979910

Targeting IL-17A for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Completed Phase 2 Results posted Last updated 20 May 2025
What this trial tests

Phase 2 trial testing Ixekizumab in Major Depressive Disorder in 7 participants. Completed in 12 April 2024.

Timeline
27 August 2021
Primary endpoint
12 April 2024
12 April 2024

Quick facts

Lead sponsorIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
PhasePhase 2
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationna
Designsingle group
Maskingnone
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment7
Start date27 August 2021
Primary completion12 April 2024
Estimated completion12 April 2024
Sites1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Who can join

Adults 18 to 70, any sex, with Major Depressive Disorder. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Number of Participants Who Dropped-out Primary · 6 weeks

The safety and feasibility of using ixekizumab in patients with TRD will be assessed by the completion of treatment measured as the receipt of all three Ixekizumab injections (160 mg at week 0, 80 mg at weeks 2 and 4). Drop-out rates will be calculated.

GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab0
Number of Anticipated and Unanticipated Adverse Events Primary · 6 weeks

The incidence and frequency of all anticipated and unanticipated serious and non-serious adverse events

GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab8
Change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale Score - Response Rate Secondary · Baseline and 6 weeks

Response rate at week 6 as compared to baseline, defined as \>=50% MADRS total score improvement. The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADARS) is a 10-item instrument used for the evaluation of depressive symptoms in adults and for the assessment of any changes to those symptoms. Each of the 10 items is rated on a scale of 0 to 6, with differing descriptors for each item. These individual item scores are added together to form a total score, which can range between 0 and 60 points. The MADRS provides a measure of the overall level of depression. Higher score indicates poorer health

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab28.57± 6.55
6 weeks
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab23.86± 10.07
Change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale Score - Remission Rate Secondary · Baseline and 6 weeks

Remission rate at week 6 as compared to baseline, defined as MADRS total score of \<=10.. The Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADARS) is a 10-item instrument used for the evaluation of depressive symptoms in adults and for the assessment of any changes to those symptoms. Each of the 10 items is rated on a scale of 0 to 6, with differing descriptors for each item. These individual item scores are added together to form a total score, which can range between 0 and 60 points. The MADRS provides a measure of the overall level of depression. Higher score indicates poorer health outcome.

baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab28.57± 6.55
6 weeks
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab23.86± 10.07
Change in Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-Report [QIDS-SR] Score Secondary · Baseline and 6 weeks

The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-Report (QIDS-SR) is a 16-item self-rated instrument designed to assess the severity of depressive symptoms. The 16 items cover the nine symptom domains of major depression and are rated on a scale of 0-3. Total score ranges from 0 to 27, with ranges of 0-5 (normal), 6-10 (mild), 11-15 (moderate), 16-20 (moderate to severe), and 21+ (severe). Higher score indicates poorer health outcome.

baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab13.57± 4.04
6 weeks
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab11.57± 5.50
Change in Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) Secondary · Up to Week 6

The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a well-validated 14-item self-report questionnaire commonly used to assess anhedonia. Each item on the SHAPS is worded so that higher scores indicate greater pleasure capacity. A total score can be derived by summing the responses to each item. Items answered with "strongly agree" are coded as "1", while a "strongly disagree" response was assigned a score of "4." Total scores on the SHAPS can range from 14 to 56, with higher scores corresponding to higher levels of anhedonia.

baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab35.29± 11.43
6 weeks
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab33.14± 12.23
Change in Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale Secondary · Baseline and 6 weeks

The Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) is an 18-item self-report measurement of anhedonia which consists of a series of statements that must be rated according to how accurate they are for the individual. The scale produces a sub-score that differentiates the role of anticipatory pleasure ('wanting') and is derived of 10 items. Subscales scores from 9-54. Total scores range is 16-108. Lower scores indicate greater levels of anhedonia.

baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab57.71± 21.78
6 weeks
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab63.14± 24.59
Change in Clinical Global Impression Scale Secondary · Baseline and 6 weeks

This is a widely administered clinician rated scale that assesses the subject overall illness severity and the degree of improvement from the initial assessment. Illness severity is rated on a 1-7 scale where 1 corresponds to "Normal, Not at All Ill", 2 is "Borderline Mentally Ill", the anchor for 3 is "Mildly Ill", the anchor for 4 is "Moderately Ill", 5 is "Markedly Ill", 6 is "Severely Ill", and 7 is "Among the Most Extremely Ill Patients". Illness improvement is rated on a 1-7 scale where 1 corresponds to "Very Much Improved", 2 is "Much Improved", the anchor for 3 is "Minimally Improved"

Baseline CGI - Improvement
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab3.43± 1.51
6 weeks - Improvement
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab3.57± 0.98
baseline - Severity
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab4.71± 0.49
6 weeks - Severity
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab4.29± 0.76
Change in The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) Secondary · Baseline and 6 weeks

The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a comprehensive, semi-structured interview that uniquely measures the full spectrum of suicidality including passive and active suicidal ideation, suicidal intent as well as suicidal behaviors. Full range from 0 to 9, with higher score indicating higher suicidal ideation severity.

Baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab0.86± 1.21
6 weeks
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab0.57± 1.13
Change in The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) Secondary · Baseline and 6 weeks

The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) is a scale of assessments of anxiety states. The scale consists of 14 items, each defined by a series of symptoms, and measures both psychic anxiety (mental agitation and psychological distress) and somatic anxiety (physical complaints related to anxiety). Each item is scored on a scale of 0 (not present) to 4 (severe), with a total score range of 0-56, where \<17 indicates mild severity, 18-24 mild to moderate severity and 25-30 moderate to severe. Higher score indicates poorer health outcomes.

baseline
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab19.00± 5.57
6 weeks
GroupValue95% CI
Ixekizumab14.86± 7.01

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: 6 weeks. Reporting threshold: 0%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Ixekizumab
Serious: 0/7 (0%)
Deaths: 0/7
Other adverse events (8 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemIxekizumab
HeadacheNervous system disorders
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders
TinnitusNervous system disorders
MyalgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Hot FlashesNervous system disorders
BloatingGastrointestinal disorders
PalpitationCardiac disorders
Skin LesionSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04979910 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

The proposed study aims to test ixekizumab, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against interleukin 17A (IL-17A), in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Publications & conference data

3 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Interactions between neutrophils and T-helper 17 cells.
    Fan X, Shu P, Wang Y, Ji N, et al · · 2023 · cited 51× · PMID 37920459 · DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1279837
  2. Immune-Targeted Therapies for Depression: Current Evidence for Antidepressant Effects of Monoclonal Antibodies.
    Rizk MM, Bolton L, Cathomas F, He H, et al · · 2024 · cited 11× · PMID 38959503 · DOI 10.4088/jcp.23nr15243
  3. Emerging Medications for Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Review with Perspective on Mechanisms and Challenges.
    Lucido MJ, Dunlop BW. · · 2025 · cited 7× · PMID 40002494 · DOI 10.3390/brainsci15020161

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of Ixekizumab

Trials testing the same drug.

Other recruiting trials for Major Depressive Disorder

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

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Data sources for this page

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Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing