Clinical trial Recruiting at 59 sites Phase 3 Interventional Ages 18 to 65

KarXT for manic episodes in Bipolar I disorder

Official title: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of KarXT for the Treatment of Manic Episodes in Bipolar-I Disorder (BALSAM-1)

Run by Bristol-Myers Squibb · NCT06951698 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial will test whether KarXT can reduce manic symptoms in adults hospitalized for an acute manic episode of Bipolar I disorder during a three-week inpatient treatment period.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
Enrollment274 (estimated)
SponsorBristol-Myers Squibb
Industry-sponsored
Locations74 sites (Bentonville, Arkansas and 73 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJune 11, 2025
Main results expectedNovember 1, 2026
Study endsNovember 1, 2026
Registry record updatedOctober 23, 2026
Trial IDNCT06951698 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults with a confirmed diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder who are currently hospitalized for an acute manic episode or mania with mixed features, meet the YMRS and CGI-BP thresholds, and can undergo the required medication washout are the intended participants.

Probably not a fit

People with a primary non–Bipolar I psychiatric disorder within the past 12 months, those who do not require hospitalization, or those unable to stop other psychotropic medications for the washout period are unlikely to qualify or benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter inpatient trial compares KarXT to placebo in adults with Bipolar I disorder experiencing an acute episode of mania or mania with mixed features. Participants are hospitalized and randomized to receive KarXT or matching placebo for a three-week double-blind treatment period, with screening and a safety follow-up making the total study duration up to seven weeks. Key entry criteria include a YMRS score of ≥20, a CGI-BP score ≥4, requirement for hospitalization, and a brief washout of other psychotropic medications. The primary outcome is change in manic symptoms during the three-week inpatient treatment window.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, KarXT could provide a new treatment option that reduces manic symptoms during acute hospitalization and speeds clinical improvement.

How similar studies have gone: KarXT and other muscarinic receptor–targeting treatments have shown promising results in schizophrenia and psychosis trials, but applying KarXT specifically to bipolar mania is relatively novel.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria

* Participants must have a primary diagnosis of Bipolar-I disorder established by a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.
* Participants must be experiencing an acute episode or relapse of mania or mania with mixed features (≤ 3 weeks).
* Participants must require hospitalization for the acute exacerbation or relapse of mania.
* Participants must have all psychotropic medications washed out in no more than 14 days prior to the first dose of the study drug.
* Participants must have a Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score of ≥ 20 at Screening and at Baseline.
* Participants must have a Clinical Global Impressions-Bipolar (CGI-BP) ≥ 4 at Screening and at Baseline.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participants must not have any primary Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition, Text Revision) (DSM-5-TR) disorder, other than BP-I with mania or mania with mixed features within 12 months before screening, including BP-I with depression (for previous 3 months only), BP-II disorder, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder, and primary psychotic disorder, with the exception of mild anxiety disorders.
* Participants must not have a primary diagnosis of BP-I with rapid cycling (≥ 4 distinct mood episodes in one year).
* Participants must not have a DSM-5-TR diagnosis of moderate to severe substance use disorder (except tobacco use disorder) within the 12 months before screening, or current use as determined by urine toxicology screen or alcohol test.
* Participants must not be at risk for suicidal behavior at screening or the baseline visit as determined by the Investigator's clinical assessment and the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS).
* Participants must not have a history of irritable bowel syndrome (with or without constipation) or serious constipation requiring treatment within the last 6 months.
* Participants must not have a history or high risk of urinary retention, gastric retention, or untreated narrow-angle glaucoma.
* Other protocol-defined Inclusion/Exclusion criteria apply.

Where it's running

  • Woodland International Research Group
    Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Advanced Research Center Inc.
    Anaheim, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • CITrials
    Bellflower, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Collaborative Neuroscience Research, LLC
    Long Beach, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • NRC Research Institute
    Los Angeles, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Catalina Research Institute, LLC
    Montclair, California, United States
    Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
  • Connecticut Mental Health Center
    New Haven, Connecticut, United States
    Recruiting
  • Research Centers of America ( Hollywood )
    Hollywood, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Advanced Research Institute of Miami
    Homestead, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • South Florida Research Phase I-IV
    Miami, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Innovative Clinical Research, Inc.
    Miami Lakes, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Health Synergy Clinical Research
    West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Synexus Clinical Research US, Inc.
    Atlanta, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
  • CenExel iResearch, LLC
    Savannah, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Pillar Clinical Research -Chicago
    Chicago, Illinois, United States
    Recruiting
  • Richmond Behavioral Associates
    Staten Island, New York, United States
    Recruiting
  • Neuro-Behavioral Clinical Research
    North Canton, Ohio, United States
    Recruiting
  • Community Clinical Research
    Austin, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Pillar Clinical Research - Richardson
    Richardson, Texas, United States
    Recruiting
  • Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires
    Abb, Buenos Aires F.D., Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Clinica del Prado
    Las Heras, Mendoza Province, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Sanatorio Morra S.A.
    Córdoba, Argentina
    Recruiting
  • Ramsay Clinic Northside
    St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Ramsay Clinic New Farm
    Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Center for Mental Health Prof. Dr. Ivan Temkov
    Burgas, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • State Psychiatric Hospital Sv. Ivan Rilski Novi Iskar
    Novi Iskar, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • "University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment - Dr. Georgi Stranski" EAD
    Pleven, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • MHAT "Dr. Ival Seliminski"
    Sliven, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • Mental Health Center - Vratsa
    Vratsa, Bulgaria
    Recruiting
  • Petz Aladar Egyetemi Oktato Korhaz
    Győr, Győr-Moson-Sopron, Hungary
    Recruiting
  • Semmelweis Egyetem
    Budapest, Hungary
    Recruiting
  • Nyírő Gyula Országos Pszichiátriai és Addiktológiai Intézet
    Budapest, Hungary
    Recruiting
  • Okehazama Hospital
    Toyoake, Aichi-ken, Japan
    Recruiting
  • National Kohnodai Medical Center.
    Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Obihiro Kosei Hospital
    Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Goryokai Medical Corporation - Goryokai Hospital
    Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Kansai Medical University Medical Center
    Moriguchi, Osaka, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Rainbow and Sea Hospital
    Karatsu-shi, Saga-ken, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Saitama Konan Hospital
    Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan
    Recruiting
  • National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
    Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Narimasu Kosei Hospital
    tabashi City, Tokyo, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Kuramitsu Hospital
    Fukuoka, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Miyazaki Prefectural Miyazaki Hospital
    Miyazaki, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital
    Osaka, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Showa Medical University Karasuyama Hospital
    Tokyo, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Wakayama Medical University Hospital
    Wakayama, Japan
    Recruiting
  • Yamagata Sakuracho Hospital
    Yamagata, Japan
    Recruiting
  • North Shore Hospital
    Auckland, New Zealand
    Recruiting
  • Centrum Medyczne HCP
    Poznan, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland
    Recruiting
  • Instytut Psychiatrii i Neurologii
    Warsaw, Masovian Voivodeship, Poland
    Recruiting

+24 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.

Study contacts

Similar studies

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How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.