Axsome Therapeutics Announces Completion of Patient Enrollment in the ASCEND Phase 2 Trial of AXS-05 in Major Depressive Disorder

Axsome Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AXSM), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for the management of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, today announced the completion of patient enrollment in the ASCEND (Assessing Clinical Episodes in Depression) study, a Phase 2 randomized, controlled trial of AXS-05 in major depressive disorder (MDD).

As quoted in the press release:

AXS-05 is a novel, oral, investigational medicine, consisting of dextromethorphan and bupropion, with glutamatergic, monoaminergic, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Topline results from the ASCEND trial are expected early January 2019.

“We are excited to complete enrollment of the ASCEND trial, and we look forward to the upcoming results of this study. ASCEND is evaluating the effect of AXS-05 as compared to bupropion on the symptoms of major depressive disorder,” said Herriot Tabuteau, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Axsome. “We believe that the multiple mechanisms of action of AXS-05 may be relevant to other CNS disorders. In addition to major depressive disorder, we are also evaluating AXS-05 in treatment resistant depression with the ongoing STRIDE-1 Phase 3 trial, agitation associated with Alzheimer’s disease with the ongoing ADVANCE-1 Phase 2/3 trial, and smoking cessation with a Phase 2 trial that is being conducted under a research collaboration with Duke University.”

Click here to read the full press release.