Forest announces phase IIb RGH-188 trial results

Forest Laboratories and Gedeon Richter have this week announced the top-line results from a phase IIb clinical trial of the novel antipsychotic known as RGH-188.

The companies report a nominally statistically significant therapeutic result in patients administered with the compound, as measured by change from baseline to week six on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

Additional analyses of these results will be conducted in the next few weeks to facilitate a more in-depth assessment of this data.

“Based on the initial positive results for one of the active dosing arms and subject to a complete review of the full study results for the just completed trial, the companies intend to continue the development of RGH-188 as a treatment for schizophrenia and will determine the appropriate development activities over the coming months,” Forest reports.

Furthermore, Forest and Gedeon Richter report that results of a proof-of-concept study of the compound in patients suffering with bipolar mania are expected during 2008.

In July 2007, Forest announced its financial results for the first quarter of the 2008 fiscal year, with the firm recording net revenues of $928.3 million (455.9 million pounds), a 14 per cent rise over the same quarter in the previous year.