Cross-over Study on the Influence of Fampridine on Working Memory in Mild to Moderate Depression

Randomized Placebo-controlled Phase II Cross-over Study on the Influence of Fampridine on Working Memory in Mild to Moderate Depression

Cross-over Study on the Influence of Fampridine on Working Memory in Mild to Moderate Depression (NCT06751784) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Working Memory and Mild to Moderate Depression, sponsored by University of Basel. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

About This Trial

Cognitive deficits, including working memory deficits, are often present in depression and there are currently no effective pharmacological treatments targeting working memory deficits. Papassotiropoulos et al. (2024) has recently demonstrated that fampridine, a potassium channel blocker, can enhance working memory in healthy individuals with lower baseline performance, suggesting it may hold potential for addressing cognitive deficits in clinical populations. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate whether fampridine improves working memory performance in mild to moderate depression

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Working Memory 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.

With a target enrollment of 38 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Male or female - Major depressive episode confirmed by the Mini-DIPS. Currently mild to moderate (MADRS: 7-30). - Normotensive (BP: 90/60mmHg - 140/90mmHg). Sufficiently treated hypertensive subjects will be included. - BMI: 19 - 34,9 kg/m2 - Age: 18 - 55 years - Fluent in German - IC as documented by signature Who Should NOT Join This Trial: - Contraindications to the class of drugs under study, e.g. known hypersensitivity or allergy to 4-aminopyridine - Use of potassium channel blockers within the last 3 months - Treatment with OCT 2 inhibitors and -substrates (e.g. cimetidine, propranolol) - Treatment with antidepressants or antipsychotics within the last 3 months and throughout the study period - Current intake of psychoactive drugs (e.g. benzodiazepines, antidepressants, neuroleptics). - Other acute or chronic psychiatric disorder (e.g. psychosis, somatoform disorder, alcohol or drug abuse disorder) - Cognitive impairment (MoCA score \< 25) - MADRS item 10 \> 1 (suicidal tendency) - Risk of lowered seizure threshold (due to e.g. sleep deprivation, withdrawal of alcohol after alcohol abuse, hyponatraemia) - History of seizures - Acute cerebrovascular condition - Acute renal failure or severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance \< 30 ml/min per 1.73 m2) - Bradycardia \< 50/min during clinical examination. - History of malignant cancers - Walking problems (e.g. due to dizziness) - Other clinically significant concomitant disease states (e.g. hepatic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma) - Clinically significant laboratory or ECG abnormality that could be a safety issue in the study - Severe somatic or neurological comorbidities - Smoking including all nicotine containing smoking systems and devices (\>10 cigarettes/units per day). Failure to withstand a test day without craving, due to regular consummation patterns. - Pregnancy or breast feeding. Intention to become pregnant during the study participation. ...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: * Male or female * Major depressive episode confirmed by the Mini-DIPS. Currently mild to moderate (MADRS: 7-30). * Normotensive (BP: 90/60mmHg - 140/90mmHg). Sufficiently treated hypertensive subjects will be included. * BMI: 19 - 34,9 kg/m2 * Age: 18 - 55 years * Fluent in German * IC as documented by signature Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to the class of drugs under study, e.g. known hypersensitivity or allergy to 4-aminopyridine * Use of potassium channel blockers within the last 3 months * Treatment with OCT 2 inhibitors and -substrates (e.g. cimetidine, propranolol) * Treatment with antidepressants or antipsychotics within the last 3 months and throughout the study period * Current intake of psychoactive drugs (e.g. benzodiazepines, antidepressants, neuroleptics). * Other acute or chronic psychiatric disorder (e.g. psychosis, somatoform disorder, alcohol or drug abuse disorder) * Cognitive impairment (MoCA score \< 25) * MADRS item 10 \> 1 (suicidal tendency) * Risk of lowered seizure threshold (due to e.g. sleep deprivation, withdrawal of alcohol after alcohol abuse, hyponatraemia) * History of seizures * Acute cerebrovascular condition * Acute renal failure or severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance \< 30 ml/min per 1.73 m2) * Bradycardia \< 50/min during clinical examination. * History of malignant cancers * Walking problems (e.g. due to dizziness) * Other clinically significant concomitant disease states (e.g. hepatic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma) * Clinically significant laboratory or ECG abnormality that could be a safety issue in the study * Severe somatic or neurological comorbidities * Smoking including all nicotine containing smoking systems and devices (\>10 cigarettes/units per day). Failure to withstand a test day without craving, due to regular consummation patterns. * Pregnancy or breast feeding. Intention to become pregnant during the study participation. * Known or suspected non-compliance * Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language or psychological problems of the participant * Participation in another study with an investigational drug within the 30 days preceding and during the present study * Enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Fampridine SR

Active study medication consists of 15 tablets of fampridine SR 10 mg formulated for oral administration taken in the morning and evening 12 h apart without food. Tablets must be administered whole.

OTHER

Placebo

no active substance

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.

University of Basel, Reserach Cluster Molecular and Cognitive Neurosciences

Basel, Canton of Basel-City, Switzerland

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06751784), the sponsor (University of Basel), 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 NCT06751784 clinical trial studying?

Who can participate in NCT06751784?

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 NCT06751784?

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 NCT06751784. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06751784. 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.