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CompletedNCT06285916NuMomUpdated Jul 31, 2026

A Study to Assess the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Oral NORA520 in Adults With Severe Postpartum Depression

A Phase 2 interventional study of NORA520 Dose 1 and NORA520 Dose 2 in Depression, Postpartum, Postpartum Depression and Post-partum Depression, sponsored by TWi Biotechnology, Inc.. Completed at 18 sites in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 45 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-31.

Sponsored by TWi Biotechnology, Inc. · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
93
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 45 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The purpose of this research study is to test the study drug, NORA520, as a possible treatment for severe postpartum depression (PPD). The trial aims to determine:

  • How well NORA520 is tolerated and what side effects it may cause
  • If NORA520 reduces depressive symptoms in subjects with severe PPD
  • The amount of NORA520 in the blood at various times after taking the study drug; this provides information that helps determine how often NORA520 should be taken
  • In a subset of subjects, the amount of NORA520 in breastmilk at various times after taking it to determine if and how much NORA520 can pass into breastmilk Participate in this study will be randomly assigned to one of 3 different groups. All subjects will take the study drug for 3 days.
02

Conditions studied

  • Depression, Postpartum
  • Postpartum Depression
  • Post-partum Depression
  • Postnatal Depression
  • Post-Natal Depression

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Postpartum Depression
  • NORA520
  • Postnatal Depression
  • NuMom
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 45 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Key Inclusion Criteria:

  • Are willing and able to provide signed informed consent to participate in the study and to comply with all study procedures and scheduled visits
  • Are an adult female between 18 and 45 years of age, inclusive;
  • Have either ceased lactating at Screening, or if still lactating or actively breastfeeding at Screening, agree to temporarily cease giving breastmilk to their infant(s) from just prior to first dose of study drug on Day 1 through Day 14;
  • Have a negative pregnancy test at Screening and Day 1 (prior to dosing);
  • Have had a depressive episode that began no earlier than the third trimester and no later than the first 4 weeks following delivery
  • Are ≤9 months postpartum at Screening.

Key Exclusion Criteria:

  • Have a history or current diagnosis or current treatment of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder;
  • Have had recorded treatment failure of ≥2 different antidepressant classes (e.g., SSRI, SNRI) in the current or previous episode;
  • Are currently experiencing active psychosis per Investigator assessment, or are taking typical or atypical antipsychotic medication;
  • Have a history of suicidal behavior within 2 years;
  • Have a history or current diagnosis of sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
93 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    NORA520 Tablets Dose 1

    NORA520 Tablets Dose 1

    Drug: NORA520 Dose 1

  • Experimental
    NORA520 Tablets Dose 2

    NORA520 Tablets Dose 2

    Drug: NORA520 Dose 2

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo Tablets

    Placebo Tablets

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugNORA520 Dose 1

    Oral NORA520 tablets Dose 1 for 3 days

  • DrugNORA520 Dose 2

    Oral NORA520 tablets Dose 2 for 3 days

  • DrugPlacebo

    Oral Placebo tablets for 3 days

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence, severity, and causality of AEs, SAEs, and AESIs

    Adverse events (AEs), Serious Adverse Events (SAEs), Adverse Events of Special Interest (AESIs)

    Time frame: Up to Day 30

  2. Change from baseline in HAM-D17 total score compared to placebo

    The Seventeen-Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17) contains 17 individual ratings related to the following symptoms: depressed mood, feelings of guilt, suicide, insomnia (initial, middle, and late), work and interests, psychomotor retardation, psychomotor agitation, anxiety (psychic and somatic), gastrointestinal symptoms, general somatic symptoms, sexual interest, hypochondriasis, insight, and weight loss. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

    Time frame: Baseline to Day 4

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline in HAM-D17 total score

    The Seventeen-Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17) contains 17 individual ratings related to the following symptoms: depressed mood, feelings of guilt, suicide, insomnia (initial, middle, and late), work and interests, psychomotor retardation, psychomotor agitation, anxiety (psychic and somatic), gastrointestinal symptoms, general somatic symptoms, sexual interest, hypochondriasis, insight, and weight loss. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

    Time frame: Baseline to Days 8 and 30

  2. HAM-D17 response

    Defined as having a 50% or greater reduction from baseline in HAM-D17 total score. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

    Time frame: Baseline to Days 4, 8, and 30

  3. HAM-D17 remission

    Defined as having a HAM-D17 total score ≤7. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

    Time frame: Baseline to Days 4, 8, and 30

  4. Change from baseline in HAM-D17 subscale and individual item scores

    The Seventeen-Item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17) contains 17 individual ratings related to the following symptoms: depressed mood, feelings of guilt, suicide, insomnia (initial, middle, and late), work and interests, psychomotor retardation, psychomotor agitation, anxiety (psychic and somatic), gastrointestinal symptoms, general somatic symptoms, sexual interest, hypochondriasis, insight, and weight loss. The total score ranges from 0 to 52, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

    Time frame: Baseline to Days 4, 8, and 30

  5. Change from baseline in Clinical Global Impression - Severity (CGI-S) score

    The CGI-S scale is a 7-point scale that requires the Investigator to assess how mentally ill is the patient at this time. 1 - normal, not at all ill; 2 - borderline mentally ill; 3 - mildly ill; 4 - moderately ill; 5 - markedly ill; 6 - severely ill; or 7 - among the most extremely ill patients.

    Time frame: Baseline to Days 4, 8, and 30

  6. Clinical Global Impression - Improvement (CGI-I) scale positive response

    The CGI-I scale is a 7-point scale that requires the Investigator to assess how much the patient's illness has improved or worsened relative to a baseline state at the beginning of study drug treatment. 1 - very much improved; 2 - much improved; 3 - minimally improved; 4 - no change; 5 - minimally worse; 6 - much worse; or 7 - very much worse

    Time frame: Baseline to Days 4, 8, and 30

  7. Change from baseline in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score

    The MADRS contains 10 individual items related to the following symptoms: apparent sadness, reported sadness, inner tension, reduced sleep, reduced appetite, concentration difficulties, lassitude, inability to feel, pessimistic thoughts, and suicidal thoughts. The total score ranges from 0 to 60, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

    Time frame: Baseline to Days 4, 8, and 30

  8. Change from baseline in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) total score

    The HAM-A contains 14 individual ratings related to the following symptoms: anxious mood, tension, fears, insomnia, intellectual, depressed mood, somatic (muscular), somatic (sensory), cardiovascular symptoms, respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal symptoms, genitourinary symptoms, autonomic symptoms, and behavior at interview. The total score ranges from 0 to 56, with higher scores indicating more severe anxiety.

    Time frame: Baseline to Days 4, 8, and 30

  9. Change from baseline in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) total score

    The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a set of 10 screening questions. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating more severe depression.

    Time frame: Baseline to Days 8 and 30

  10. Number of patients who start any new antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication

    Time frame: After Day 8 assessments through Day 30

06

Study locations

18 sites
  • Pillar Clinical Research
    Bentonville, Arkansas 72712, United States
  • Advanced Research Center
    Anaheim, California 92805, United States
  • Alliance Research Institute
    Canoga Park, California 91304, United States
  • Cenexel Clinical Research
    Sherman Oaks, California 91403, United States
  • Cenexel Clinical Research
    Torrance, California 90504, United States
  • MedOne Clinical Research
    Miami, Florida 33145, United States
  • Meridian International Research, Inc.
    Miami Gardens, Florida 33014, United States
  • Combined Research
    Orlando, Florida 32807, United States
  • Clinical Research Center of Florida
    Pompano Beach, Florida 33060, United States
  • GCP Research
    St. Petersburg, Florida 33607, United States
  • Cenexel Clinical Research
    Atlanta, Georgia 30331, United States
  • CenExel Clinical Research
    Decatur, Georgia 30030, United States
  • CenExel Clinical Research
    Savannah, Georgia 31405, United States
  • Insight Hospital and Medical Center Chicago
    Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
  • Zucker Hillside Hospital
    Glen Oaks, New York 11004, United States
  • Monroe Biomedical Research
    Monroe, North Carolina 28112, United States
  • Maximos Ob/Gyn
    League City, Texas 77573, United States
  • Pillar Clinical Researc
    Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06285916
Lead sponsor
TWi Biotechnology, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 29, 2024
Start date
Mar 28, 2024
Primary completion
Sep 11, 2025
Completion
Oct 6, 2025
Last update
Jul 31, 2026

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
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