Otsuka and Lundbeck report positive schizophrenia drug trial data

Otsuka and Lundbeck have announced positive findings from a clinical trial demonstrating the benefits their drug Abilify Maintena can offer to young adult patients with schizophrenia.

The newly-released subgroup analysis of data from the QUALIFY study showed significantly greater and clinically meaningful improvements in functioning and health-related quality of life with Abilify Maintena compared with an alternative in patients aged 18 to 35 years.

Positive effects were seen consistently in this subgroup of younger patients across a range of effectiveness measures, suggesting the once-monthly treatment may confer better treatment outcomes at a younger age.

Steven Potkin of the department of psychiatry and human behaviour at the University of California, said: "The study findings indicate that treatment with aripiprazole once-monthly in adult patients aged 35 years and younger may be particularly beneficial in improving these patients' abilities to do better in social, home and work or education-related environments."

The drug is the only long-acting injectable antipsychotic that exerts partial agonist activity at the D2 dopamine receptor and was approved in the EU in 2013. 

It is indicated for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adult patients stabilised with oral aripiprazole.