To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Extended-Release Paliperidone Resolves Schizophrenia Exacerbations Faster Than Quetiapine: Presented at CINP URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22600E.htm Doctor's Guide July 18, 2008
By Bryan DeBusk, PhD MUNICH, Germany -- July 18, 2008 -- Patients hospitalised for acute exacerbations of schizophrenia who received extended-release paliperidone experienced improvements in symptoms and were ready for discharge sooner than those who received quetiapine, according to research presented here at the 26th Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum (CINP) Congress. Larry Alphs, MD, PhD, Ortho-McNeil Janssen Scientific Affairs, Titusville, New Jersey, presented the results in a poster session on July 15. In the international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 399 patients hospitalised for a recent exacerbation of schizophrenia receive extended-release paliperidone 9 or 12 mg daily, quetiapine 600 or 800 mg daily, or placebo for 2 weeks of monotherapy followed by 4 weeks of additive therapy. During the 6-week study, investigators assigned Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores and evaluated patients were well enough to be discharged. Changes in PANSS scores were not significantly different in the paliperidone and quetiapine arms during the first 4 days of monotherapy, but beginning on day 5 of therapy and continuing through the end of monotherapy, PANSS scores were better for patients receiving paliperidone compared with quetiapine. During monotherapy, mean total changes in PANSS score were -23.4 with paliperidone and -17.1 with quetiapine (P < .001). Mean total changes in PANSS score during the 6-week study were -31.2 and -26.6, respectively (P = .023). After 2 weeks of monotherapy, 50.6% of patients receiving paliperidone were ready for discharge compared with 37.5% of patients receiving placebo (P = .027), while 43.3% of patients receiving quetiapine were ready for discharge at the same time point (P = .362). Discontinuations related to adverse events in the 6-week trial were 6% for paliperidone, 10% for quetiapine, and 6% for placebo. Paliperidone was associated with more reports of tremor compared with quetiapine or placebo (14% vs 5% vs 8%, respectively). Both paliperidone and quetiapine were associated with drowsiness compared with placebo (9% vs 12% vs 1%). Dr. Alphs also noted that improvements in PANSS scores at the end of the monotherapy phase were significant compared with placebo for patients receiving paliperidone but not for patients receiving quetiapine. This demonstrates that paliperidone provides more complete resolution of symptoms within 2 weeks compared with standard therapy with quetiapine, according to the researchers. Funding for this study was provided by Ortho-McNeil Janssen Pharmaceuticals. [Presentation title: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial Comparing Paliperidone ER and Quetiapine in Patients With a Recent Acute Exacerbation of Schizophrenia. Abstract P02-25] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.