Testing a New Nasal Treatment for Depression That Hasn't Responded to Other Medications

Plain-English translation of NCT05660642 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated July 2026 · Translation generated July 2026 · How we translate trials

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 medication called that you would receive as a nasal spray to help treat depression that hasn't responded to other medications you've tried. The research team wants to understand whether this medication is safe, how well your body tolerates it, and how it might help reduce your depression symptoms. You would receive either one or two doses of the medication over the course of the study, depending on which group you're assigned to.

Many people with depression find that standard antidepressant medications don't work well enough for them. This trial exists to explore whether this new treatment might offer hope to those who have struggled to find relief through conventional approaches.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder
your depression has not improved despite trying at least two different antidepressant medications over the past 5 years
your depression symptoms are currently moderate to severe (meeting specific severity score requirements)
you are willing to stop taking your current antidepressant medication during the study
you do not have a history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other serious psychiatric conditions

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or psychotic disorders
you have active suicidal thoughts or have attempted suicide in the past year
you have a seizure disorder or history of seizures
you are currently taking medications that could interact with the study drug, such as antipsychotics or certain other psychiatric medications
you have untreated or uncontrolled medical conditions like thyroid problems, diabetes, or kidney disease

What participation looks like

You would either receive one nasal dose of the medication with 12 weeks of follow-up appointments, or two doses with 10 weeks of follow-up, depending on which study group you join. Throughout the study, you would have regular check-ins to monitor how you're doing, and the research team would provide psychological support before, during, and after you receive the medication. Your visits would include assessments of your mood and depression symptoms to help the doctors understand whether and how the treatment is working.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 17, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(3 sites)

United Kingdom

MAC Clinical Research, Liverpool

Hammersmith Medicines Research, London

King's College London, Clinical Trials Facility, London