A single dose of DT120 — a proprietary LSD formulation — significantly reduced depression symptoms in adults with MDD, with benefits lasting through 12 weeks. The phase 3 Emerge trial met its primary endpoint and all key secondary endpoints, with no serious adverse events reported. Researchers say the results could represent a new treatment paradigm for major depression.
A single dose of DT120 (lysergide) orally disintegrating tablets — a proprietary LSD formulation developed by Definium Therapeutics — produced rapid and durable antidepressant effects in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), according to topline results from the phase 3 Emerge trial. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled 149 adults with moderate-to-severe MDD, with 83% of participants classified as severely depressed at baseline.
The drug met its primary endpoint, delivering an 8.1-point placebo-adjusted improvement in MADRS scores at week 6 (P < .0001). Notably, benefits appeared as early as week 1 — with a 14.2-point placebo-adjusted improvement — and remained significant through week 12. The treatment was administered as a monotherapy with no accompanying psychotherapy, and participants were tapered off background antidepressants before dosing.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With over 4 million patients failing current antidepressant options, a single-dose psychedelic therapy with durable 12-week effects — and a manageable safety profile — could meaningfully reshape how MDD is treated. A second pivotal trial (Ascend) is ongoing, with results expected in 2027.
