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Drug

Escitalopram

In clinical development
Emerging researchLate-stage developmentRising momentum
Also known as (+)-Citalopram, (S)-Citalopram, Escitalopram Oxalate, Lexapro+3 more

(+)-Citalopram, (S)-Citalopram, Escitalopram Oxalate, Lexapro, S(+)-Citalopram, S-(+)-Citalopram, Escitalopramum.

RxNorm321988ChEMBLCHEMBL1508ATCN06AB10UNII4O4S742ANY
19
Research papers
12
Active clinical trials
Latest activity
beta

Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this drug.

Pharmacogenetically-guided Escitalopram Treatment for Pediatric Anxiety: Aiming to Improve Safety and Efficacy (PrEcISE)

Clinical trial2026-06-30Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Optimized Predictive Treatment In Medications for Unipolar Major Depression (OPTIMUM-D)

Clinical trial2026-06-11Results expected Q4 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Multicenter,Randomized,Double-blind,Placebo,Parallel-controlled,Dose-Finding Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of LV232 Capsules in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Clinical trial2026-05-20Results expected Q3 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Depression Treatment and Aβ Dynamics: A Study of Alzheimer's Disease Risk (ABD Study)

Clinical trial2026-05-06Results expected Q4 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

A 'Proof of Concept' Study to Identify Neural Target Engagement of Escitalopram in Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Clinical trial2026-02-18Results expected Q4 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Escitalopram in Asthma Patients With Frequent Exacerbation

Clinical trial2026-01-26Results expected Q4 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

A Randomised, Controlled Trial to Investigate the Effect of an Intensified Pharmacological Treatment for Schizophrenia, Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Depression in Subjects Who Had a First-time Treatment Failure on Their First-line Treatment.

Clinical trial2026-01-22Results expected Q2 2028 · ClinicalTrials.gov

Efficacy and Safety of Electroacupuncture on Treating the First Episode of Mild to Moderate Depression

Clinical trial2025-12-31Primary completion · ClinicalTrials.gov

Psychedelics and sexual functioning: a mixed-methods study.

Research2024-02-07Scientific reports

Effects of escitalopram on synaptic density in the healthy human brain: a randomized controlled trial.

Research2023-10-09Molecular psychiatry

Multi-omics reveal microbial determinants impacting the treatment outcome of antidepressants in major depressive disorder.

Research2023-08-28Microbiome

Acute Effects of Psilocybin After Escitalopram or Placebo Pretreatment in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects.

Research2021-11-22Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics

Profile

Identifiers & mechanism

Canonical identifiers, marketed brand names and mechanism, resolved across RxNorm, ChEMBL and ATC.

Canonical name
Escitalopram
Aliases & brands
(+)-Citalopram(S)-CitalopramEscitalopram OxalateLexaproS(+)-CitalopramS-(+)-CitalopramEscitalopramum
RxNorm CUI
321988
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1508
ATC codes
N06AB10
UNII
4O4S742ANY

Clinical trials

194 trials

The current development programme across all trial phases — status mix, phase distribution and the late-stage studies shaping the evidence base.

Development programme
CLINICALTRIALS.GOV · LIVE REGISTRY
194
registered trials across all phases
LATEST COMPLETION 2025
12
Active studies
10
Recruiting
156
Late-stage (III+)
125
Completed
57
Discontinued
PHASE DISTRIBUTIONn = 194
Early Phase 12Phase 118Phase 1 / 23Phase 215Phase 2 / 37Phase 337Phase 477Phase N / A35

Late-stage studies

Phase III+ trials still open or recently active — where late-stage evidence is being generated.

Optimized Predictive Treatment In Medications for Unipolar Major Depression (OPTIMUM-D)

RecruitingPH IVNova Scotia Health Authorityn=4002029

The Role of Serotonin in Compulsive Behavior in Humans: Underlying Brain Mechanisms

Active, not recruitingPH IVRigshospitalet, Denmarkn=462027

Depression Treatment and Aβ Dynamics: A Study of Alzheimer's Disease Risk (ABD Study)

RecruitingPH IVNYU Langone Healthn=602027

Pharmacogenetically-guided Escitalopram Treatment for Pediatric Anxiety: Aiming to Improve Safety and Efficacy (PrEcISE)

RecruitingPH IVUniversity of Cincinnatin=1322026

Acute, Double-blind, Adaptively Randomized Treatment With Duloxetine or Escitalopram, Followed by Open-label Naturalistic Follow-up.

RecruitingPH IVUniversity of Cincinnatin=602025

Recent completions

Trials that read out recently, adding to the completed evidence base.

A Non-Randomized, Open-Label, Exploratory Mechanistic Validation (PoM) Clinical Trial of LV232 Capsule Assessing Serotonin Transporter Occupancy in the Healthy Adult Brain Using 11C-DASB Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

CompletedPH IVigonvita Life Sciencesn=202025

A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Drug Interaction Between YZJ-1139 Tablets and Escitalopram Oxalate Tablets

CompletedPH IShanghai Haiyan Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd.n=242024

RCT Study on the Therapeutic Effect of Escitalopram Loaded With XingpiJieyu Formula on Resting State EEG Energy Abnormalities in Severe Liver Depression and Spleen Deficiency Type MDD

CompletedN/APeking University Sixth Hospitaln=1502024

A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial of Escitalopram and Nortriptyline With Standard Psychological Care for Depression in Parkinson's Disease

CompletedPH IIIUniversity College, Londonn=522023

Assessing Tolerability and Efficacy of Vortioxetine Versus SSRIs in Elderly Patients With Depression: a Pragmatic, Multicenter, Open-label, Parallel-group, Superiority, Randomized Trial

CompletedPH IVAzienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Veronan=3622023

Sertraline Versus Escitalopram in South Asian Participants With Moderate to Severe Major Depressive Disorder: A Double-blind, Parallel, Randomized Controlled Trial

CompletedPH IIIKRL Hospital, Islamabadn=7442023

Research activity

19 papers

Key research shaping understanding of this drug, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.

Publications over time
20092024
Most influential

Efficacy of escitalopram for hot flashes in healthy menopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.

JAMA · 2011 · 167 cites

Escitalopram in the treatment of adolescent depression: a randomized placebo-controlled multisite trial.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry · 2009 · 130 cites

Acute Effects of Psilocybin After Escitalopram or Placebo Pretreatment in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics · 2022 · 113 cites

Escitalopram for older adults with generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

JAMA · 2009 · 79 cites

Prevention of depression with escitalopram in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery · 2013 · 67 cites

Effect of escitalopram on insomnia symptoms and subjective sleep quality in healthy perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with hot flashes: a randomized controlled trial.

Menopause (New York, N.Y.) · 2012 · 66 cites
Recent papers

Psychedelics and sexual functioning: a mixed-methods study.

Scientific reports · 2024 · 14 cites

Multi-omics reveal microbial determinants impacting the treatment outcome of antidepressants in major depressive disorder.

Microbiome · 2023 · 58 cites

Effects of escitalopram on synaptic density in the healthy human brain: a randomized controlled trial.

Molecular psychiatry · 2023 · 38 cites

Acute Effects of Psilocybin After Escitalopram or Placebo Pretreatment in a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study in Healthy Subjects.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics · 2022 · 113 cites

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) versus escitalopram in major depressive disorder.

The Journal of clinical psychiatry · 2014 · 61 cites

Prevention of depression with escitalopram in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery · 2013 · 67 cites
Major research themes8
Menopause3Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor1Cognitive Dysfunction1Escitalopram1Hallucinogens1Major Depressive Disorder1Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors1Sweating1
Journals, researchers & institutions
Top journals
  • JAMA2
  • Menopause (New York, N.Y.)2
  • The Journal of clinical psychiatry2
  • Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics1
  • Fertility and sterility1
  • International journal of geriatric psychiatry1
Leading researchers
  • Freeman EW6
  • Joffe H6
  • Guthrie KA5
  • Reed SD5
  • Carpenter JS4
  • Ensrud KE4
  • LaCroix AZ3
  • Larson JC3
Leading institutions
free-text, unnormalised
  • Massachusetts General Hospital2
  • Advanced Center for Interventions and Services Research for Late-Life Mood Disorders1
  • Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection1
  • Anxiety Disorders Clinic1
  • Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders1
  • Centre for Psychedelic Research1

Related drugs

3 matches

Drugs sharing diseases, protein targets and literature with this one. Ranked by graph evidence (shared targets + diseases weighted above co-mentions).

Citalopram

Studied across the same disease area as Escitalopram in the shared literature.

1 shared disease2 shared papers
Amino Acids

Studied across the same disease area as Escitalopram in the shared literature.

1 shared disease1 shared paper
Psilocybin

Frequently co-studied with Escitalopram in the research literature.

2 shared papers
References & data sources
  • RxNorm (U.S. National Library of Medicine) — drug identity
  • ChEMBL (EMBL-EBI) & UniProt — pharmacology and targets
  • Europe PMC — research literature
  • ClinicalTrials.gov — clinical trials