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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

A Study of the Effects of Oxytocin in Adults With Binge-eating Disorder

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin in Adults With Binge-eating Disorder

A Study of the Effects of Oxytocin in Adults With Binge-eating Disorder (NCT05664516) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Binge-eating Disorder, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This study evaluates the impact of intranasal oxytocin vs placebo in patients with binge eating disorder or episodes of binging. We hypothesize that 8 weeks of intranasal oxytocin vs placebo will improve clinical outcomes \[reduction in bingeing frequency\], and have a satisfactory safety and tolerability profile. We will also explore the predictive value of changes in homeostatic appetite, reward sensitivity, and impulse control, the identified underlying mediators, as assessed 4 weeks into the intervention, for treatment success after 8 weeks of the intervention.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Binge-eating Disorder and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 60 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Binge-eating Disorder subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Males and females, 18-70 years old - BMI greater than or equal to 18.5 - BED as assessed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5-RV) OR Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) - Binge-eating disorder (of low frequency and/or limited duration) (SCID-5-RV) OR Bulimia Nervosa (BN) through excessive exercise and/or fasting to avoid gaining weight after episodes of binge eating. For individuals with OSFED-BED, the frequency of subjective and objective binge eating episodes will meet the frequency (Criterion D) for BED. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Substance use disorder active within the last 6 months, or clinical suspicion of ongoing substance use disorder at the discretion of the study clinician at the time of screening based on history and/or laboratory results - Medication changes that have not reached steady state concentration, measured by the equivalent of 5 half-lives of that medication - Use of medications for binge eating disorder or weight loss unless at a stable dose for at least 12 weeks - History of any of the following medical conditions: inflammatory bowel disease; epilepsy; untreated thyroid disease - History of known cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, reduced ejection fraction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmias, or prolonged QT - Hematocrit \>2% below normal - Hemoglobin A1c \>8% - Use of insulin - ALT or AST \>2.5 times upper limit of normal - Glomerular filtration rate \< 60 mL/min - Hyponatremia. Note that, in order to be randomized, subjects must have Na ≥ 135 mEq/L. - Pregnancy or breastfeeding - Unwilling to use a medically acceptable form of contraception throughout the study period (female of child-bearing potential only) - History of psychosis or active suicidal ideation - Major depressive disorder likely to require initiation or change in active treatment ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * Males and females, 18-70 years old * BMI greater than or equal to 18.5 * BED as assessed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID-5-RV) OR Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED) - Binge-eating disorder (of low frequency and/or limited duration) (SCID-5-RV) OR Bulimia Nervosa (BN) through excessive exercise and/or fasting to avoid gaining weight after episodes of binge eating. For individuals with OSFED-BED, the frequency of subjective and objective binge eating episodes will meet the frequency (Criterion D) for BED. Exclusion Criteria: * Substance use disorder active within the last 6 months, or clinical suspicion of ongoing substance use disorder at the discretion of the study clinician at the time of screening based on history and/or laboratory results * Medication changes that have not reached steady state concentration, measured by the equivalent of 5 half-lives of that medication * Use of medications for binge eating disorder or weight loss unless at a stable dose for at least 12 weeks * History of any of the following medical conditions: inflammatory bowel disease; epilepsy; untreated thyroid disease * History of known cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, reduced ejection fraction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmias, or prolonged QT * Hematocrit \>2% below normal * Hemoglobin A1c \>8% * Use of insulin * ALT or AST \>2.5 times upper limit of normal * Glomerular filtration rate \< 60 mL/min * Hyponatremia. Note that, in order to be randomized, subjects must have Na ≥ 135 mEq/L. * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Unwilling to use a medically acceptable form of contraception throughout the study period (female of child-bearing potential only) * History of psychosis or active suicidal ideation * Major depressive disorder likely to require initiation or change in active treatment * Borderline personality disorder as assessed by the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD) * Current nicotine use, unless stable use for at least 12 weeks. * Participation in any clinical study involving an investigational drug, device, or biologic within 1 month of randomization * Any significant illness, condition, or medication that the Investigator determines could interfere with study participation and impact data collection or subject safety

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

TNX-1900 (Tonix Pharmaceuticals)

oxytocin nasal spray

DRUG

Placebo

Nasal solution without oxytocin

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Neuroendocrine Unit Research Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05664516), the sponsor (Massachusetts General Hospital), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05664516 clinical trial studying?

This study evaluates the impact of intranasal oxytocin vs placebo in patients with binge eating disorder or episodes of binging. We hypothesize that 8 weeks of intranasal oxytocin vs placebo will improve clinical outcomes \[reduction in bingeing frequency\], and have a satisfactory safety and tolerability profile. We will also explore the predictive value of changes in homeostatic appetite, reward sensitivity, and impulse control, the identified underlying mediators, as assessed 4 weeks into the intervention, for treatment success after 8 weeks of the intervention. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05664516?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05664516?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05664516. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05664516. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.