Thursday, August 6, 2009

FDA Okays First Monthly Antipsychotic Drug

The FDA has approved the injectable maintenance drug paliperidone palmitate (Invega Sustenna), making it the first once-monthly, atypical antipsychotic for schizophrenia.

The long-acting drug is approved for both acute and maintenance treatment.

The parent drug -- paliperidone in a once-daily tablet -- is an active metabolite of an old pharmaceutical, the atypical antipsychotic risperidone (Risperdal). (See Invega (paliperidone), Son of Risperdal (risperidone), Wins FDA Okay for Schizophrenia)

Researchers see once-monthly dosing as a potential solution for the medication adherence problems common in schizophrenia, noted Henry A. Nasrallah, MD, of the University of Cincinnati, an investigator in the paliperidone palmitate clinical trials.

"Inconsistent compliance with medications is arguably one of the single greatest impediments to managing the symptoms of schizophrenia and delaying the time to relapse," he said in a prepared statement.

READ MORE @ MEDPAGE TODAY