The novel antipsychotic lurasidone appears to improve acute schizophrenia symptoms without the weight gain or metabolic problems common among second generation agents, according to a preliminary report from the drug's second pivotal trial.
Patients treated with the 40 and 120 mg doses of the drug had reductions of 25.7 and 23.6 points on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score, significantly greater than the 16.0 decline among placebo treated patients, according to data released by drug developer Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma.
In the phase III PEARL 2 (Program to Evaluate the Antipsychotic Response to Lurasidone) trial, 53% of patients on the lower dose and 47% on the higher dose had at least a 30% improvement on symptom score from baseline whereas only 38% on placebo did.
The company press release also announced that lurasidone met key secondary efficacy endpoints at both doses in the trial, including change from baseline on the Clinical Global Impressions Severity scale (-1.5 and -1.4 versus -1.1, respectively).
The results are expected to be reported in greater detail at the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology meeting later this year.
aread more @ medpage today
Showing posts with label antipsychotic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label antipsychotic. Show all posts
Friday, August 28, 2009
Monday, October 8, 2007
New Medication For The Treatment Of Schizophrenia Significantly Reduces Symptoms And Improves Patients’ Daily Lives(1,2)
INVEGA™ controls symptoms around the clock and may reduce the risk of some drug interactions, which can be a problem in the treatment of schizophrenia
Toronto, ON .- Health Canada has approved INVEGA™ (paliperidone) for the treatment of schizophrenia.1 INVEGA™ is the only once-daily oral treatment for schizophrenia that uses a unique OROS® technology designed to deliver and sustain a controlled level of medication throughout the day.1 Moreover, INVEGA™ is not extensively metabolized in the liver, which may mean fewer drug interactions for patients.1,3
People with schizophrenia are often on more than one medication (called polypharmacy) for conditions including anxiety disorders, depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV and hepatitis C.3 In fact, studies have shown that 43 per cent of patients on an atypical antipsychotic are on five or more other medications.4 Taking several drugs along with antipsychotic medication can alter the potency of the medication and may lead to serious and potentially life-threatening adverse events.3 Thus, reducing the risk of drug interactions in the treatment of schizophrenia is an important consideration.
READ MORE @ WEBWIRE
Toronto, ON .- Health Canada has approved INVEGA™ (paliperidone) for the treatment of schizophrenia.1 INVEGA™ is the only once-daily oral treatment for schizophrenia that uses a unique OROS® technology designed to deliver and sustain a controlled level of medication throughout the day.1 Moreover, INVEGA™ is not extensively metabolized in the liver, which may mean fewer drug interactions for patients.1,3
People with schizophrenia are often on more than one medication (called polypharmacy) for conditions including anxiety disorders, depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV and hepatitis C.3 In fact, studies have shown that 43 per cent of patients on an atypical antipsychotic are on five or more other medications.4 Taking several drugs along with antipsychotic medication can alter the potency of the medication and may lead to serious and potentially life-threatening adverse events.3 Thus, reducing the risk of drug interactions in the treatment of schizophrenia is an important consideration.
READ MORE @ WEBWIRE
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Lilly's Schizophrenia Drug Targets Different Brain Chemicals
Eli Lilly and Co.'s experimental schizophrenia drug, which may replace its top-selling Zyprexa, was just as effective without causing patients to gain weight, according to a study.
Unlike other schizophrenia medicines on the market, the new compound doesn't target dopamine, a chemical that functions within the brain's reward system. It affects glutamate, involved in learning and memory. The study showed the new drug candidate to be as effective as Zyprexa in reducing symptoms such as hallucinations and social withdrawal.
The new drug candidate, dubbed LY2140023, would be the first for the disorder affecting glutamates, a company official said. Zyprexa, with $4.3 billion in 2006 sales, now faces competition from less expensive copies in Canada and Germany, the Indianapolis-based company said on June 8. The drug's U.S. patent expires in 2011.
``Discovering an antipsychotic drug that doesn't work through dopamine is the holy grail of drug development,'' said Gerald Marek, Lilly's chief scientific officer of psychiatric disorders, in an Aug. 30 telephone interview. ``It looks like we've hit upon a target that will ultimately do this.''
READ MORE @ BLOOMBERG
Unlike other schizophrenia medicines on the market, the new compound doesn't target dopamine, a chemical that functions within the brain's reward system. It affects glutamate, involved in learning and memory. The study showed the new drug candidate to be as effective as Zyprexa in reducing symptoms such as hallucinations and social withdrawal.
The new drug candidate, dubbed LY2140023, would be the first for the disorder affecting glutamates, a company official said. Zyprexa, with $4.3 billion in 2006 sales, now faces competition from less expensive copies in Canada and Germany, the Indianapolis-based company said on June 8. The drug's U.S. patent expires in 2011.
``Discovering an antipsychotic drug that doesn't work through dopamine is the holy grail of drug development,'' said Gerald Marek, Lilly's chief scientific officer of psychiatric disorders, in an Aug. 30 telephone interview. ``It looks like we've hit upon a target that will ultimately do this.''
READ MORE @ BLOOMBERG
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