Takeda and Sunovion report positive data from schizophrenia drug trial

Takeda and partner Sunovion have reported positive data from a trial of lurasidone, their new therapy for the maintenance treatment of adults with schizophrenia.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the compound, a once-daily oral atypical antipsychotic that has already been approved for use in the US, Canada and Switzerland.

Findings from the trial revealed that patients who received lurasidone experienced a significant delay in time to relapse, compared to patients who received placebo. It was also generally well-tolerated and had low rates of weight increase, as well as lipid and glucose effects.

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency issued a positive opinion on the EU approval of the drug in January 2014.

Dr Antony Loebel, executive vice-president and chief medical officer at Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, said: "We are pleased to see the results of this study confirm the long-term efficacy of lurasidone in schizophrenia. In addition, long-term effects on metabolic parameters were consistent with the findings of short-term studies."

Previous research has shown lurasidone to be effective in treating both positive and negative symptoms in acutely psychotic patients with schizophrenia, demonstrating efficacy with low rates of metabolic change.