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FDA Approves New Treatment for Schizophrenia

Abilify™ (Aripiprazole) Provides New Hope for 2.2 Million Americans Suffering From Most Serious Form of Mental Illness

NEW YORK, NY -- November 18, 2002 -- The FDA has just approved an important new drug for the treatment of schizophrenia called Abilify™.

Schizophrenia is a devastating illness that has a profound effect on the lives of the people suffering from this disorder as well as their families. Because schizophrenia generally strikes in late adolescence or early adulthood, it can rob people of their independence just as they are about to enter an important time in their lives. While there is no cure, schizophrenia is a treatable illness-and now there is new hope for patients and families.

STATISTICS ON SCHIZOPHRENIA TODAY:
* 1 in 100 people have schizophrenia ... more than 2.2 million Americans.
* The total financial cost of schizophrenia is estimated at up to $65 billion a year(1).
* 1 in 3 patients who start an antipsychotic will either switch medications or discontinue their medication within a year(2).
* 56% of patients in a survey admitted to extended periods of time when they are off medication and 32% of those patients cited side effects of their medication as the primary reason(3).

There is obviously a tremendous unmet medical need for new therapies to treat this devastating brain disorder. In clinical trials, Abilify was effective in improving the symptoms of schizophrenia for many patients, and demonstrated a favorable side effect profile. Abilify is manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals.

ABILIFY has been studied in more than 5,500 patients, including more than 1,250 patients who were treated for at least one year. In short-term placebo-controlled trials, there was no difference in the incidence of discontinuation due to adverse events between patients treated with ABILIFY and placebo. The most commonly reported adverse events were headache, anxiety and insomnia.

References:

(1) World Health Organization (WHO), The World Health Report 2001.
Pg. 33
(2) Covell, N.H.; Jackson, C.T.; Evans, A.C.; Essock, S.M. Antipsychotic prescribing practices in Connecticut's public mental health system: Rates of changing medications and prescribing styles. Schizophrenia Bulletin. Volume 28, Issue 1: pg.17-29
(3) Schizophrenia: Youth's Greatest Disabler. Survey conduced by Pollara for Schizophrenia Society of Canada and Eli Lilly Co. February 2001.


SOURCE: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

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