Lilly reveals positive Zyprexa trial news

Eli Lilly has revealed the results of the phase II Catie (clinical antipsychotic trial of intervention effectiveness) trial involving the Zyprexa drug.

The phase II Catie trial found that Zyprexa was one of the most effective antipsychotics used in the test, according to Lilly, which studied the use of atypical antipsychotics to treat chronic schizophrenia and why patients changed treatments.

The results from the phase II Catie trial showed that in most cases it was the lack of efficacy of a drug that caused a patient to switch medication rather than the individual patient’s tolerance level.

“Results of this landmark study confirm that efficacy matters when treating this devastating illness,” said Dr Robert Baker, medical director, US neuroscience, Eli Lilly.

“Studies such as Catie are important for both doctors and patients as they provide insights about why patients continue or discontinue their medication treatment. This is important because patients who stay on their treatment longer may have a lower risk of relapse as well as experience fewer hospitalisations.”

One of the chief investigators of the Catie trial said that the results highlight the need for doctors to treat each schizophrenia case individually and evaluate the benefits and risks associated with each treatment for a patient.

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