Recruiting

Adding an anti-inflammatory drug to a brain-enhancing treatment for severe schizophrenia

Plain-English translation of NCT05240976 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated March 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Read our Schizophrenia research guide →

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a combination approach for people with ultra-resistant schizophrenia — a severe form that doesn't respond well to standard treatments like clozapine. Researchers want to see if adding an anti-inflammatory medication to an NMDA enhancer (a medication that works on a specific brain chemical) can help reduce symptoms better than the NMDA enhancer alone. You would continue taking your clozapine while also receiving the new medication combination.

Some people with schizophrenia don't get better even with the strongest available medications. Recent research suggests that inflammation in the brain may play a role in this treatment-resistant form of the illness, so doctors want to test whether reducing that inflammation while also enhancing a key brain chemical could help more people.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with schizophrenia
you have tried at least two standard antipsychotic medications before starting clozapine without adequate improvement
you have been taking clozapine for more than 12 weeks but still have significant symptoms
you have moderate to severe symptoms as measured by symptom rating scales
you are able to understand the study requirements and communicate effectively
you are willing to give informed consent and participate for 12 weeks

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a diagnosis of intellectual disability or a history of substance or alcohol use disorder
you have a history of epilepsy, serious head injury, or other serious medical conditions affecting your brain or nervous system
you have clinically significant abnormal blood tests or other lab results
you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding
you are unable or unwilling to follow the study protocol and visit schedule

What participation looks like

You would visit the research clinic at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12. At each visit, doctors would check your symptoms, cognitive function (memory, thinking, attention), and any side effects. You would continue taking your regular clozapine and randomly receive either the new anti-inflammatory medication plus the NMDA enhancer, or the NMDA enhancer plus a placebo (inactive pill). The entire study lasts 12 weeks, with the most detailed cognitive testing done at the beginning and end.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 2, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

Taiwan

Department of Psychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung