Bristol-Myers Squibb announces aripiprazole study results

At the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association this week, Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced the results of a six-week trial investigating the efficacy of aripiprazole as an adjunctive treatment for depression.

In the trial, patients administered with aripiprazole as an adjunct to antidepressant therapy exhibited an improvement in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating (MADR) scale, the primary endpoint of the trial.

Available in tablet, orally-disintegrating tablet, oral solution and intramuscular injection formulations, aripiprazol is currently indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute manic and mixed episodes in bipolar I disorder patients.

Patients receiving the compound in addition to antidepressant therapy exhibited an 8.8 point reduction in baseline measurement of the MADR, compared to a drop of 5.8 points in those administered with placebo.

Arif Khan, medical director at the Northwest Clinical Research Centre, said: “The findings from this study contribute more information about the potential use of add-on medications to antidepressant therapy in patients who inadequately respond to antidepressants alone.”

He added that with many patients suffering major depressive conditions who are not currently attaining adequate symptom response, such studies are vital.

Bristol-Myers Squibb announced the launch of an injectible form of aripiprazole in December as a treatment for agitation in bipolar mania or schizophrenia patients.