AttunE LIFU for OCD: a non-invasive brain stimulation study
Official title: Safety and Feasibility Study of ATTN201 Repeated Subthalamic Nucleus Focused Ultrasound Stimulation for the Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Run by University of Pennsylvania · NCT07728994 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests ATTN201, a wearable ultrasound headband, to see if it helps adults with OCD compared to a sham treatment.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 22 Years to 80 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Pennsylvania Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Francisco, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2028 |
| Study ends | October 31, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | July 27, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07728994 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 22–80 with a DSM-5 OCD diagnosis, Y-BOCS >16, and stable OCD medication dosing for at least 3 weeks prior to screening.
✕Probably not a fit
Participants who do not respond to the active ultrasound or who experience intolerable adverse effects may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a phase 2 randomized, double-blind study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of ATTN201, a non-invasive, MRI-guided low-intensity focused ultrasound device delivered to the subthalamic nucleus. Approximately 40 adults with OCD will be assigned 1:1 to active or sham stimulation for 12–16 weeks, with 14 total visits that can be in person or remote. The study uses a wearable headband and aims to determine whether this approach can be safely used in OCD patients and whether it shows signals of clinical benefit. All participants and staff are unaware of treatment assignment during the treatment period. The trial will be conducted at a single site in San Francisco under the oversight of a sponsor and collaborating company.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants could experience reductions in OCD symptoms and gain a new, non-invasive treatment option.
How similar studies have gone: Early human studies of ATTN201 in OCD and related circuits have shown feasibility and safety signals, but this is among the first randomized, sham-controlled trials in OCD using LIFU.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Have a principal diagnosis of OCD according to the DSM-5 with duration of \> 1 year
2. Have a Y-BOCS of \> 16
3. Participants currently on OCD medication must be at the same stable dose(s) for at least 3 weeks prior to screening and throughout the course of the study, and must continue to be under the care of their treating psychiatrist through the duration of the study.
4. Be between 22 to 80 years of age (inclusive) on the day of signing informed consent.
5. Be able and willing to undergo a cranial MRI
6. Be able and willing to wear an Attune device throughout the experimental sessions.
7. Sign the informed consent form, in accordance with local requirements, after the scope and nature of the investigation have been explained to the subject, and before screening assessments.
8. Be able to speak, read, and understand the language of the trial staff and the informed consent form.
9. Possess the ability to respond verbally to questions, follow instructions, and complete study assessments.
10. Be able to adhere to the stimulation protocol and visit schedules.
11. Be determined by the investigator to be medically stable at baseline/randomization as assessed by medical history and non-significant clinical results of a vital signs examination.
12. Male participants must ensure a condom is used for all sexual intercourse and follow acceptable methods of contraception for their female partner for the entire duration of the study. Male participants should not father a child or donate sperm for this same period.
13. Female participants who are sexually active agree to use two methods of contraception for the duration of the study or not be of childbearing potential as indicated by one of the following:
1. Has reached natural menopause, defined as 45 years of age with ≥6 months of spontaneous amenorrhea
2. Has had a hysterectomy;
3. Has had bilateral tubal ligation; or
4. Has had a bilateral oophorectomy (with or without a hysterectomy) and greater than 6 weeks have passed since the surgery
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Has a current or prior history of bipolar I or II disorder, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder, borderline personality disorder, Tourette's disorder
2. Has acute suicidality or suicide attempt or self-injurious behavior in the last 6 months
3. Has a history of deep brain stimulation or ablative surgery
4. Has a history of substance abuse including alcohol use disorder in the past 6 months (except for caffeine and nicotine)
5. Has a history of traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness, seizures,or other neurological disorders.
6. Has any contraindications for completing a brain MRI scan.
a. The subject's head must fit within the head coil (32 or 64 channel), while wearing the MR-compatible device.
7. Has had a ketamine or TMS treatment within the last month prior to recruitment.
8. Has had any medical or psychiatric symptoms or conditions that could interfere with study activities or confound interpretation of study results.
9. Has a recent or ongoing, uncontrolled, clinically significant medical condition where participation in the trial would pose a significant medical risk to the subject or would confound study results within 3 months of Screening, such as:
1. Conditions including but not limited to diabetes, hypertension, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or other relevant infections, thyroid or endocrine disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), delirium, congestive heart failure, angina, cardiac or gastrointestinal disease, or renal disease requiring dialysis, or unstable malignancies.
2. Major surgery including not limited to abdominal, thoracic, cardiac, or orthopedic surgery, or any procedure requiring general anesthesia.
3. Subjects with recently controlled or treated medical conditions may be considered for re-screening on a case-by-case basis after consultation with the Sponsor.
4. Has a history of hepatitis or liver disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, has been active within the 6 months prior to Visit 1.
10. Is pregnant, is attempting to become pregnant, or is nursing children.
11. Is or has an immediate family member (e.g., spouse, parent/legal guardian, sibling, or child) who is an investigational site or sponsor staff directly involved with this trial.
12. Has a Body Mass Index (BMI) \>34 kg/m2. BMI is calculated by taking the subject's weight in kg and dividing by the subject's height in meters, squared
Where it's running
-
Attune Neurosciences
San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Giovanna Rocchio
- Email: giovanna.rocchio@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
- Phone: 6177657150
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Low-intensity focused ultrasound targeting the subthalamic nucleus for OCD
A short test is being done to see if a wearable, non-invasive ultrasound device can safely and tolerably help adults with OCD by targeting a brain region called the subthalamic nucleus.
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.