Ketamine Outperforms Midazolam in Bipolar Depression Trial

A small clinical trial has shown that adjunctive ketamine outperformed midazolam for patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression. Alan Schatzberg, MD, of Stanford Medicine in California, reported that the trial yielded a rather clear difference between the drug and the control, according to a comment featured on MedPage Today's 'What We Heard This Week'.

Trial Results for Treatment-Resistant Depression

The trial specifically investigated the use of ketamine as an adjunctive therapy for individuals whose bipolar depression had not responded to other treatments. The comparator agent in the study was midazolam, a sedative often used as an active placebo in psychiatric drug trials. Schatzberg's statement indicates the results demonstrated ketamine's superior efficacy in this challenging patient population.

Other Notable Clinical Findings

The weekly digest also highlighted comments on two other investigational therapies. Gerald Watts, MD, PhD, from the University of Western Australia, expressed optimism for plozasiran (Redemplo) after a pair of phase III trials. He stated the agent has a very good chance of being game-changing in the clinic for patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, as it significantly lowered triglycerides.

Also, Victoria Werth, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, commented on the potential of brepocitinib (Lisraya) for dermatomyositis. She noted that these patients are all really miserable and suggested the selective TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor could be a great advance in relieving symptoms.

A Challenge to Current Cardiac Intervention Practice

Another trial commentary addressed the timing of PCSK9 inhibitor administration. Davide Capodanno, MD, PhD, of the University of Catania in Italy, discussed data showing no immediate clinical benefit from starting these cholesterol-lowering drugs in the catheterization lab during an acute heart attack. Capodanno said the study challenges the currently popular 'strike early and strike strong' concept in this context.

Research on a Heart Condition Therapy

Positive results were also reported for aficamten (Myqorzo) in a different cardiac condition. Ahmad Masri, MD, of Oregon Health & Science University Medical Group, discussed trial outcomes for the drug in symptomatic nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He stated that every way, shape, or form you look at this there was benefit.

The source compilation included several other anecdotes and opinions not directly related to clinical trial outcomes, such as a physician's story about a combative patient during CPR and a call for more transparency in politicians' health records.