12-Week Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Adjunctive Infliximab for Bipolar I/II Depression



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Depression, Depression, Psychiatric
Therapuetic Areas:Psychiatry / Psychology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 65
Updated:5/4/2017
Start Date:September 2015
End Date:November 2017
Contact:Mehala Subramaniapillai, HBSc
Email:mehala.subram@uhn.ca
Phone:416-603-5133

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A Multisite, Fixed Dose, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled 12-Week Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Adjunctive Infliximab for the Treatment of Bipolar I/II Depression

Studies show the presence of immuno-inflammatory disturbances in individuals with Bipolar
Disorders (BD). Increased levels of circulating proteins known as cytokines that promote
inflammation have been consistently reported in individuals with bipolar disorders. A
particular cytokine referred to as Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-alpha is among those
cytokines that have been consistently identified across depressive, manic, and euthymic
periods. Disturbances in inflammation however, are not seen in all individual with bipolar
disorder. Those individuals with signs of inflammation also often present with higher
prevalence of medical disorders that are also associated with inflammation. Those
individuals with significant signs of inflammation may respond to anti-inflammatory
treatments. In this study, individuals with bipolar depression who exhibit signs of high
inflammation will be enrolled and treated with either an anti-inflammatory biologic known as
infliximab or placebo (saline).


Inclusion Criteria:

- Fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
criteria for major depressive episode as part of bipolar I/II disorder and are able
to provide written informed consent

- HAMD-17 score >= 20

- Young Mania Rating Scale score < 12

- Previous failed trial (i.e., inefficacy) of quetiapine and one other Canadian Network
for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) BD guideline/FDA approved first line
treatment for the depressive phase of BD during the index episode and/or during a
prior episode

- Currently prescribed conventional mood stabilizer or atypical antipsychotic agent

- Received conventional treatment for bipolar depression for a minimum of 4 weeks prior
to randomization

- Females of childbearing potential must test negative for pregnancy and must be using
adequate birth control measures throughout the study and must continue such
precautions for 6 months after receiving the last study drug administration.

Participants will also need to meet one of the following inflammatory indicators:

1. Central Obesity (ethnicity-specific waist circumference - see table below for
specific values) OR BMI ≥30 kg/m2.

AND

- Raised triglycerides: ≥1.7 mmol/L (150 mg/dL) or specific treatment for this
lipid abnormality OR

- Reduced HDL-cholesterol: <1.03 mmol/L (40 mg/dL) in males; <1.29 mmol/L (50
mg/dL) in females or specific treatment for this lipid abnormality OR

- Raised Blood Pressure: Raised blood pressure Systolic: ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic:
≥85 mm Hg or treatment of previously diagnosed hypertension.

2. Diabetes: 8-hour fasting plasma glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L or Hb-A1C test ≥ 6.5% (as per
the 2013 CDA diagnostic criteria) or previously diagnosed type 1 or 2 diabetes
(current prescription medication for diabetes acceptable of diagnosis). Participants
with child onset of diabetes will be excluded.

3. Inflammatory bowel disorder (Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's disease).

4. Rheumatological disorders (rheumatoid arthiristis); Psoriasis.

5. Smoking cigarettes (daily - minimum of ½ pack).

6. High sensitivity C-reactive protein level of ≥5 mg/L via blood test at screening

Exclusion Criteria:

- Another concurrent psychiatric disorder that requires primary clinical attention

- History of schizophrenia

- Active psychotic symptoms

- Substance abuse and/or dependence within past 6 months

- Electroconvulsive therapy in the past 6 months

- Actively suicidal or evaluated as being a suicide risk [HAMD-17 suicide item >= 3 or
Montogomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) suicide item >= 4, or according to
clinical judgement using the C-SSRS]

- Clinically significant unstable medical illness

- Severe infections such as sepsis, abscess, tuberculosis and opportunistic infections

- Viral hepatitis B

- History of Hepatitis C ( documented or suspected)

- Any autoimmune disorder

- History of tuberculosis or a high risk of tuberculosis exposure

- Human Immunodeficiency Virus confirmed by laboratory testing

- Active fungal infection

- History of recurrent viral or bacterial infections

- Received within 3 months prior to screening or are expected to receive any live viral
vaccine or live bacterial vaccinations during the trial or up to 3 months after the
last administration of study agent

- C. difficile infection within the past 4 months

- History of lymphoproliferative disease

- History of cancer, excluding basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (fully
excised with no recurrence)

- Unstable cardiovascular, endocrinological, hematological, hepatic, renal or
neurological disease determined by physical examination and laboratory testing

- Concomitant diagnosis or any history of congestive heart failure

- Concomitant treatment with non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
or other biologics

- Current or past exposure to anti-TNF biologics

- Previous immediate hypersensitivity response, including anaphylaxis to an
immunoglobulin product (plasma-derived or recombinant, e.g. monoclonal antibody)

- Known allergies, hypersensitivity or intolerance to infliximab or its excipients

- Known allergy to murine proteins or other chimeric proteins

- Currently on or have used any investigational drug within 30 days prior to screening,
or within 5 half-lives of the investigational agent

- Females who are pregnant or breastfeeding
We found this trial at
2
sites
Toronto, Ontario
Principal Investigator: Roger S McIntyre
Phone: 416-603-5133
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3801 Miranda Avenue
Palo Alto, California 94304
650-493-5000
Principal Investigator: Trisha Suppes
VA Palo Alto Health Care System The VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) consists...
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