INTRODUCTION: To assess the efficacy of desvenlafaxine (administered as 
desvenlafaxine succinate) in outpatients with major depressive disorder.
METHODS: A meta-analysis of individual patient data was performed on the 
complete set of registration trials (nine randomized, double-blind, 
placebo-controlled 8-week studies) of desvenlafaxine. Patients received fixed 
(50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/day; n=1,342) or flexible doses (100-400 mg/day; n=463) 
of desvenlafaxine or placebo (n=1,108). The primary efficacy variable was the 
17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D(17)); the primary intent to 
treat analyses used the last-observation-carried-forward method.
RESULTS: Significantly greater improvement with desvenlafaxine versus placebo on 
the HAM-D(17) total score was observed for the full data set (difference in 
adjusted means: -1.9; P<.001), each fixed-dose group (all P<.001), and the 
flexible-dose group (P=.024). Overall rates of HAM-D1(17) response (> or =150% 
decrease from baseline score: 53% vs 41%) and remission (HAM-D(17) < or =7: 32% 
vs 23%) were significantly greater for desvenlafaxine versus placebo (all 
P<.001). Discontinuation rates due to adverse events increased with dose (4% to 
18%; placebo: 3%).
CONCLUSION: Desvenlafaxine demonstrated short-term efficacy for treating major 
depressive disorder across the range of doses studied. No evidence of greater 
efficacy was observed with doses >50 mg/day; a strong dose-response effect on 
tolerability was observed.