AstraZeneca, Sanofi-Aventis and Pfizer-funded research says new antipsychotics ‘not more efficacious

Researchers in the Netherlands have released new research claiming that newly-developed expensive antipsychotic medication does not offer a significant improvement on older, cheaper drugs when used to treat a first episode of schizophrenia.

The randomised trial involved 498 patients aged 18 to 40 who were administered either with halopedridol, or treated with one of Geodon (ziprasidone HCI), Seroquel (quetiapine), Solian (amisulpride) and Zyprexa (olanzapine).

Reductions in symptoms were around the same for all groups, measured at around 60 per cent, with no significant differences according to sex or tendencies to substance abuse and suicide, Reuters said.

Rene Kahn, of the University Medical Centre in Utrecht, said: “It cannot be concluded that second-generation antipsychotic drugs are more efficacious”.

However, new antipsychotics are less likely to cause side-effects and more patients stopped treatment with haloperidol compared to the other treatments.

In total, 63 patients on the older drug ceased treatment, compared to 31 on Geodon, 51 on Seroquel, 32 on Solian and 30 on Zyprexa.

Last month, AstraZeneca submitted Seroquel XR extended release tablets to EU regulators for approval as a treatment for bipolar depression and bipolar mania.