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Study Confirms Seroquel(R) as Effective as Risperidone for Treatment of Schizophrenia

ALDERLEY PARK, UK -- August 3, 2006 -- Seroquel® (quetiapine fumarate) demonstrated similar levels of efficacy to risperidone among schizophrenia patients completing an 8-week treatment course, in a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, but among Seroquel®-treated patients a significantly lower rate of EPS (Extra-Pyramidal symptoms) was seen, and mean prolactin levels were not raised from baseline1.

The study, known as QUARTZ (Quetiapine Fumarate and Risperidone in the Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia) measured treatment efficacy based on PANSS total scores over an eight-week period, as well as tolerability.

Professor Jeffrey Lieberman of Columbia University, who supervised the analysis and interpretation of the QUARTZ data, said, "In QUARTZ, quetiapine had similar overall efficacy to risperidone, and both treatments improved cognitive and social functioning, but tolerability profiles were different. Studies such as CATIE have shown that longer-term treatment adherence is related to both efficacy and tolerability. As physicians, effective care for patients with schizophrenia means choosing from a variety of medicines according to the needs of the individual patient."

Patients were randomized to receive Seroquel (n=338) or risperidone (n=335). Flexible-dose regimens (quetiapine 200-800 mg/day, mean 525mg/day; risperidone 2-8mg/day, mean 5.2mg/day), based on existing product labels, allowed trial investigators to adjust doses based on patients' clinical response and tolerability. Patients who continued taking medication for the full eight-week period achieved greater improvement.

"Many studies show that longer-term treatment adherence is related to the balance between efficacy and tolerability. This is especially true in chronic conditions such as schizophrenia. AstraZeneca is committed to supporting good scientific research that helps inform prescribing choices," said Martin Brecher, Executive Director of Medical Science, AstraZeneca.

Improvements with quetiapine and risperidone were similar on PANSS total, PANSS response rates, CGI-C and cognitive function; around half the patients on each medicine discontinued before completing 8 weeks treatment (54.4% versus 49.9%, respectively). In the Seroquel®-treated group somnolence was more common (26% versus 20%); rates of EPS were lower (13% versus 22%); and prolactin levels were not elevated compared to baseline (decrease of 11.5ng/mL on quetiapine versus rise of 35.5ng/mL on risperidone).

About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects about one percent of population.2,3 The symptoms of schizophrenia, including delusions, hallucinations and disordered thoughts, as well as depression, anxiety and lack of emotion, can be highly debilitating and profoundly affect quality of life. The failure to take medication as prescribed (poor medication adherence) is a major cause of relapse and readmission into hospital.4,5

About Seroquel
Seroquel® (quetiapine fumarate) has a well-established safety and efficacy profile and to date over 16 million people have been treated with Seroquel worldwide. Seroquel has been licensed for the treatment of schizophrenia since 1997 and it is available in 85 countries for the treatment of this condition. Seroquel is also licensed in 73 countries for the treatment of mania associated with bipolar disorder. Seroquel is marketed by AstraZeneca and it is the number one prescribed atypical antipsychotic in the United States, with global sales of $2.8 billion in 2005.

REFERENCES:
1.Zhong KX, Sweitzer DE, Hamer RM. Comparison of quetiapine and risperidone in the treatment of schizophrenia: a randomized, double-blind, flexible-dose, 8-week study. J Clin Psychiatry 2006; 67:1093-1103.
2.Suppina AL, Patten SB. Can J Psychiatry. 2006;51:256-9
3.Wittchen H-U, Jacobi F. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2005:15:357-376
4.Hale T. Br Med J 1993;307:749-750
5.Pool VE, Elder ST. Int Rev Appl Psychol 1986; 35:547-576


SOURCE: AstraZeneca

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