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
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 274 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Bristol-Myers Squibb Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 74 sites (Bentonville, Arkansas and 73 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 11, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | November 1, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | October 23, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06951698 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
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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
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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
- Study coordinator: BMS Clinical Trials Contact Center www.BMSClinicalTrials.com
- Email: Clinical.Trials@bms.com
- Phone: 855-907-3286
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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.