10 Oct Efficacy of Lurasidone in Schizophrenia

Antony Loebel, M.D.
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Sunovion
Head of Global Clinical Development
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Group

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Lurasidone hydrochloride (HCl) is an atypical antipsychotic approved by the FDA for the treatment of schizophrenia in 2010. There are a number of publications on lurasidone studies, pooled data that were included in a network meta-analysis of RCTs in schizophrenia. The meta-analysis compares lurasidone with other antipsychotics using RCTs where both medications were studied at the same time. Such approach (meta-analysis of similarly designed trials) allows for a state of the art review of efficacy, safety and tolerability of medications where direct head-to-head trials are not available.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: The efficacy of lurasidone was similar when compared with other atypical antipsychotics (olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine and ziprasidone) using PANSS and CGI-S in meta-analysis for four RCTs.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Based on systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, controlled clinical trials in patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia, treatment with lurasidone demonstrated similar efficacy compared with other atypical antipsychotics (olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine and ziprasidone).

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: A head-to-head comparison of existing and emerging treatment options for schizophrenia is a significant unmet need. It is especially important in light of growing interest in comparative research. Such information gives clinicians valuable tools in their decision making when choosing an appropriate medication for individual patients. It is important to conduct head-to-head comparisons in schizophrenia not only in acutely ill patients, but also in chronic treatment of this condition, which is a life-long and disabling disease.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: We also conducted and presented at this meeting systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the safety of lurasidone compared with other antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia. Specifically, we looked at changes in body weight, cholesterol and triglycerides in patients who were treated with lurasidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone or haloperidol. The results demonstrated that treatment with lurasidone was associated with less weight gain and metabolic disturbances than active comparators.

Citation:

2016 European College of Neuropsychopharmacology abstract:
September 18 2016

Efficacy of Lurasidone in Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of RCTS with Active Comparators?
Tadashi Nosaka, Katsuhiko Hagi, Andrei Pikalov, Antony Loebel, John M. Kane

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

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Last Updated on October 10, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD