Researchers used computer technology to gather together clinical trial data from the US and EU and identify which ones had collected blood samples or genetic information that may be useful for future research.
Depression affects millions worldwide. Many clinical trials have tested and compared both medications and non-drug therapies used to treat depression.
In collaboration with Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC) [a not-for-profit company that promotes drug discovery], researchers created a database (collection) of clinical trials related to the treatment of depression. These came from two major clinical trial registries in the US and the EU.
For each paper, they summarised:
- Which intervention was tested?
- What other conditions/diagnoses did they look at, alongside depression (e.g. cancer)?
- Phase of trial
- Phase I is initial safety testing.
- Phase II is establishing the dose/does it work in real people?
- Phase III involves generating enough data for regulatory approval.
- Phase IV is monitoring real-life use of the medication.
- What stage the trial is at (e.g., currently recruiting, underway or completed),
- Start and end date.
- Information about trial sponsors (i.e., who started and is responsible for the study?)
- Demographics of trial participants (e.g., age, sex, ethnicity)
They identified 8,853 unique clinical trials registered between 1987 and 2024, with the majority (86%) coming from the US register. Over 40% of clinical trials included a drug intervention, with around 13% testing antidepressants. Other trials included behavioural interventions and digital devices. Trial sponsors included universities, healthcare organisations, and pharmaceutical companies. Information about participant demographics and final sample sizes were incomplete for many trials.
The researchers then used computer technology (informatics) to identify which trials were likely to have collected blood samples or genetic information that might be useful for future research.
This comprehensive resource summarises the landscape of clinical trials in depression performed since 1987. It will allow researchers to identify relevant clinical trials that include genetic samples, which could be used to expand genetic research on antidepressants in the future.
Link to paper: Clinical trials in depression: Integrated collection across EU and US registries https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.25126.1
Elizabeth Thomas worked with Iona Beange and Kate Stewart on this lay summary as part of her placement for the MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement, University of Edinburgh.
