Clinical Trials

Numerous clinical trials evaluate conditions associated with N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor functionality, encompassing psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder and schizophrenia alongside neurological pathologies including anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, Parkinson's disease, and primary mitochondrial disease. Spanning early phase 1 through phase 4 across recruiting, active not recruiting, and completed statuses, these studies focus on central receptor occupancy and therapeutic intervention strategies. Research is sponsored by academic medical institutions including Hospices Civils de Lyon and All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar, government bodies like the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and commercial entities such as Novartis Pharmaceuticals.

NCT Number Recruitment Conditions Sponsor/Collaborators Start Date Phases
NCT07122895 RECRUITING
Schizophrenia
China Medical University Hospital
 2025-09-16 PHASE2
NCT06574360 RECRUITING
Schizophrenia
China Medical University Hospital
 2024-09-23 PHASE2
NCT04372615 RECRUITING
Autoimmune Encephalitis; Encephalitis
University of Utah
 2022-03-30 PHASE2
NCT05181189 NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Omega 3 Fatty Acids; Dementia
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
 2026-08 PHASE2
NCT06021197 RECRUITING
Schizophrenia
China Medical University Hospital
 2023-10-12 PHASE2
NCT07093333 RECRUITING
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor (NMDAR) Encephalitis (ANRE); Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor (NMDAR) Antibody-associated Psychiatric Disease; Autoimmune Encephalitis
Arialys Australia Pty Ltd
 2026-05-15 PHASE2
NCT05977023 RECRUITING
Bipolar I Disorder
China Medical University Hospital
 2023-10-04 PHASE2
NCT04745143 RECRUITING
Schizophrenia
China Medical University Hospital
 2018-01-01 PHASE2
NCT02994433 RECRUITING
Depressive Disorder, Major; Depressive Disorder, Treatment-Resistant
Washington University School of Medicine
 2017-01-27 PHASE1
NCT05240976 RECRUITING
Schizophrenia
China Medical University Hospital
 2022-02-23 PHASE2
NCT05503264 ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NMDAR Autoimmune Encephalitis; LGI1 Autoimmune Encephalitis
Hoffmann-La Roche
 2022-09-27 PHASE3
NCT04959201 RECRUITING
Schizophrenia
China Medical University Hospital
 2020-11-30 PHASE2
NCT04637620 RECRUITING
Major Depressive Disorder
China Medical University Hospital
 2017-06-01 PHASE2
NCT05136755 RECRUITING
Major Depressive Disorder
China Medical University Hospital
 2022-01-25 PHASE2
NCT04917302 RECRUITING
Schizophrenia
China Medical University Hospital
 2020-10-13 PHASE2
NCT05052853 RECRUITING
Prodromal Schizophrenia
China Medical University Hospital
 2021-11-01 PHASE2
NCT03780829 TERMINATED
SCI
VA Office of Research and Development
 2020-02-25 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT02097706 RECRUITING
Borderline Personality Disorder
The Alfred
 2015-01 PHASE2
NCT06183788 UNKNOWN
Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
Fundacion Clinic per a la Recerca Biomédica
 2023-01-16
NCT05447286 COMPLETED
Opioid Use Disorder
Yale University
 2023-05-15 PHASE1
NCT04470037 COMPLETED
Parkinson's Disease With Dementia
China Medical University Hospital
 2016-04 PHASE2
NCT06337994 COMPLETED
Treatment of Cognitive Deficits After Traumatic Brain Injury
Assiut University
 2024-01-01 PHASE3
NCT05921929 WITHDRAWN
PTSD; Alzheimer Disease; Brain Diseases; Neuro-Degenerative Disease; Major Depressive Disorder; Treatment Resistant Depression
ReST Therapeutics
 2024-05-02 PHASE1
NCT06236451 Recruiting
Schizophrenia
All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar
 2024-04-05 Phase 4
NCT06185790 Recruiting
Mitochondrial Diseases|Diabetes-Deafness Syndrome Maternally Transmitted
Radboud University Medical Center|Stichting Stofwisselkracht
 2024-01-05 Not Applicable
NCT05666687 COMPLETED
Major Depressive Disorder
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
 2023-01-11 PHASE1
NCT03274375 COMPLETED
Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
 2021-06-23 PHASE2
NCT05954468 Recruiting
NMDAR Antibody-associated Auto-immune Encephalitis
Hospices Civils de Lyon
 2023-10-09 --
NCT03336398 COMPLETED
Tinnitus
New York State Psychiatric Institute
 2019-09-01 PHASE2
NCT04244058 SUSPENDED
Disorder of Consciousness; Traumatic Brain Injury
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
 2020-09-23 EARLY_PHASE1
NCT06183788 Recruiting
Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
Fundacion Clinic per a la Recerca Biomédica|Hospital Sant Joan de Deu
 2023-01-16 Not Applicable
NCT05650229 Active not recruiting
Primary Mitochondrial Disease
Abliva AB
 2022-12-13 Phase 2
NCT04199468 COMPLETED
Cannabis; Ketamine
Yale University
 2019-09-24 PHASE1
NCT04762836 COMPLETED
Chronic Pain; Pain Syndrome
Leiden University Medical Center
 2021-02-28
NCT03752463 COMPLETED
Alzheimer Disease
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
 2015-05-22 PHASE2
NCT03414931 COMPLETED
Depressive Disorder, Major
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
 2016-01 PHASE2
NCT03166501 COMPLETED
Depression; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Baylor College of Medicine
 2018-09-01 PHASE1
NCT03062150 COMPLETED
Major Depression
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
 2016-09-27
NCT02950233 TERMINATED
Pain, Postoperative
Population Health Research Institute
 2017-05-04 PHASE3
NCT03961464 COMPLETED
Cycloserine; Healthy Volunteer
University of Oxford
 2018-08-10
NCT02579928 COMPLETED
Major Depressive Disorder; Anxiety Disorder
Yale University
 2015-10 PHASE4
NCT02239003 COMPLETED
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
 2012-01 PHASE2
NCT00088699 COMPLETED
Depression; Mood Disorders; Major Depresssion
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
 2004-07-26 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT02373124 COMPLETED
Cocaine Use Disorders
New York State Psychiatric Institute
 2014-12 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT01882829 COMPLETED
Major Depressive Disorder; Treatment Resistant
James Murrough
 2013-07 PHASE2
NCT01844726 TERMINATED
Psychiatric Illness; Healthy
Northwestern University
 2013-05 PHASE2
NCT00338598 COMPLETED
Alcoholism; Schizophrenia
Yale University
 2003-06 PHASE2
NCT01551329 COMPLETED
Depression; Alcohol Dependence
Yale University
 2012-03 PHASE1
NCT02426983 UNKNOWN
Schizophrenia
University of Ottawa
 2015-04 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT00588952 COMPLETED
Alcoholism
Yale University
 2001-03
NCT01865578 COMPLETED
Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
 2012-04
NCT01553435 UNKNOWN
Pain; Opioid Tolerance; Analgesia Tolerance
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center
 2011-01
NCT01833897 COMPLETED
Bipolar Disorder
New York State Psychiatric Institute
 2013-03 PHASE4
NCT02087202 UNKNOWN
Pain
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
 2014-03
NCT01602185 COMPLETED
Neuropathic Pain
University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand
 2012-05 PHASE2
NCT01047592 COMPLETED
Schizophrenia
Chang-Hua Hospital
 2009-03 PHASE2
NCT01251055 COMPLETED
Schizophrenia; Treatment Refractory
China Medical University Hospital
 2010-04 PHASE2
NCT01474395 UNKNOWN
Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder
Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research
 2012-03 PHASE2
NCT01600469 COMPLETED
Alzheimer's Disease; Mild Cognitive Impairment
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
 2012-01 PHASE2
NCT02051426 COMPLETED
Healthy
Herzog Hospital
 2007-04
NCT01785628 COMPLETED
Parkinson's Disease With Dementia
China Medical University Hospital
 2010-08
NCT02082912 COMPLETED
Stroke
Emory University
 2010-06 PHASE2
NCT00986479 COMPLETED
Treatment Resistant Major Depressive Disorder
AstraZeneca
 2009-12 PHASE2
NCT00980408 COMPLETED
Healthy Individuals
University Hospital, Bonn
 2008-06
NCT00960219 COMPLETED
Schizophrenias; Psychoses; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenic Disorders
China Medical University Hospital
 2009-04 PHASE2
NCT00817336 COMPLETED
Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder
Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research
 2009-06 PHASE2
NCT00630955 COMPLETED
Alcohol Drinking
Yale University
 2006-06 PHASE2
NCT00611897 COMPLETED
Cognitive Dysfunction
Yale University
 2006-01 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT01140620 COMPLETED
Healthy Volunteers; Schizophrenia
University of Manchester
 2010-06 PHASE4
NCT00408031 COMPLETED
Major Depressive Disorder
Herzog Hospital
 2007-01 PHASE2
NCT00055549 COMPLETED
Voice Disorders
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
 2003-03-04 PHASE1
NCT00218465 COMPLETED
Nicotine Dependence
Massachusetts General Hospital
 2006-08 PHASE2
NCT00690170 COMPLETED
Healthy Subjects
Yale University
 2002-12 PHASE1
NCT00136747 COMPLETED
Tobacco Use Disorder
New York State Psychiatric Institute
 2004-01 PHASE1
NCT00125515 COMPLETED
Opioid Dependence
New York State Psychiatric Institute
 2005-06 PHASE2
NCT00526968 COMPLETED
Human Volunteers
Evotec Neurosciences GmbH
 2007-09 PHASE1
NCT00205712 COMPLETED
Psychoses, Substance-Induced
Washington University School of Medicine
 2003-02 PHASE4
NCT00405886 COMPLETED
Tinnitus
Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH
 2005-10 PHASE2
NCT00246415 COMPLETED
Alcohol Dependence (Primary Condition); Alcohol Abuse
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
 2002-11 PHASE2
NCT00364429 TERMINATED
Schizophrenia
GlaxoSmithKline
 2005-07 PHASE1
NCT00040261 COMPLETED
Depression
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
 2002-06 PHASE3
NCT00240760 UNKNOWN
Down's Syndrome; Dementia; Learning Disabilities
King's College London
 2005-10
NCT00001365 COMPLETED
Neurodegenerative Disease; Parkinson's Disease
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
 1993-07 PHASE2
NCT00163085 COMPLETED
Parkinson's Disease
Pfizer
 2005-05 PHASE2
NCT00491569 COMPLETED
Schizophrenias; Psychoses; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenic Disorders
China Medical University Hospital
 2005-01 PHASE2
NCT00375778 COMPLETED
Parkinson's Disease
University of Aarhus
 2005-04
NCT00163059 COMPLETED
Depressive Disorder, Major
Pfizer
 2004-05 PHASE2
NCT00188383 UNKNOWN
Hyperalgesia; Pain; Prostate Cancer
University Health Network, Toronto
 2004-01 PHASE1; PHASE2
NCT00001930 COMPLETED
Chorea; Huntington's Disease
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
 1999-04 PHASE2
NCT00001929 COMPLETED
Movement Disorders; Parkinson Disease
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
 1999-03 PHASE2
NCT00328276 COMPLETED
Schizophrenias; Psychoses; Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenic Disorders
China Medical University Hospital
 2004-12 PHASE2

(data from https://clinicaltrials.gov, updated on 2025-09-17)

Check the NMDA (N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid) product page for in-depth specifications, including solubility, stock solutions, MOA, and working concentrations.

Compliance for Clinical Use

Mechanism and Biochemical Profile

N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid selectively binds to and activates NMDA receptors by mimicking the action of the endogenous excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, which triggers downstream calcium ion influx and depolarizes postsynaptic neuronal membranes. This alteration of excitatory synaptic transmission modulates neuroplasticity and cellular signaling pathways in the central nervous system, establishing functional relevance to clinical trial conditions such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Appendix RUO and cGMP Quality Standards

Quality Dimension RUO (Research Use Only) cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice)
Clinical Applicability Prohibited in human clinical trials or medical diagnostics. Mandatory for human clinical trials (Phase I–III) and therapies.
Regulatory Status Non-regulated grade; exempt from drug manufacturing laws. Legally enforced by health authorities (e.g., FDA, EMA, NMPA).
Facility Environment Unclassified analytical or research laboratories. Validated Cleanrooms (ISO Class 5–8) with continuous monitoring.
Quality Control Basic purity and activity testing. Rigorous safety release testing (Sterility, Endotoxin, Mycoplasma).
Process Validation Basic equipment calibration; no process validation required. Full qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ) and complete batch records.
Quality Assurance Vendor self-declared without required formal QMS. Mandatory QA/QC unit, Change Control, CAPA, and vendor audits.
Regulatory Impact High risk of IND rejection if used as a critical raw material. Required for IND/NDA filings, supported by Drug Master Files (DMF).

Footnotes

Regulatory Note: Governed by FDA (21 CFR Parts 210/211/312), EMA (EudraLex Vol 4), ICH Guidelines (E6/Q7/Q9/Q10), and compendial standards (USP <71>/<85>/<1043>).

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Note: Technical data last updated: Sep 1, 2026.