7 results
Delphi Panel on the Dimensions and Assessment of Functional Recovery in First-Episode and Early-Phase Schizophrenia Patients
- John M. Kane, Murat Yildirim, Jessica Madera-McDonough, Celso Arango, Andrea Fagiolini, Philip Gorwood, Navdeep Sahota, Christoph U. Correll
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 28 / Issue 2 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 April 2023, pp. 251-252
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Functional recovery is a treatment goal that goes beyond symptomatic remission and encompasses multiple aspects of schizophrenia patients’ lives, including quality of life, physical, and mental functioning. There is evidence that long-acting injectable (LAI) treatments promote adherence and reduce rehospitalisation and functional decline, which could facilitate patients’ ability to reach functional recovery. Despite this, LAIs are underused in the first-episode (FEP) and early-phase (EP) patient population, due to physician hesitancy and concerns around stigma. A Delphi panel was held to gain expert consensus on an approach to the domains and assessment of functional recovery elements in FEP and EP schizophrenia patients.
A literature review and input from a steering committee of 5 experts in psychiatry informed statements development for a three-round modified Delphi process. Round one was conducted via one-to-one video conference interviews, and the successive rounds were conducted via electronic surveys, which enabled international collaboration. Statements on the different domains and assessment for functional recovery were presented to 17 psychiatrists, practicing in 7 countries (France, Italy, US, Germany, Spain, Denmark, and UK), experienced in the treatment of schizophrenia with LAIs. Several analysis rules determined whether a statement could progress to the next round and specified the level of agreement required to achieve consensus. Measures of central tendency (mode, mean) and variability (interquartile range) were reported back to help panelists look at their previous responses in the context of the overall group.
A consensus was reached (defined a priori as ≥80% agreement) on all 27 statements covering the dimensions, assessment, and level of achieved functional recovery for FEP and EP patients. The following domains are important to consider when assessing functional recovery: depression, aggressive behaviour, social interaction, family functioning, education/employment, sexual functioning, and leisure activities. Additionally, panellists reached consensus that dimensions should be minimally impairing, if present (excluding sexual functioning) and asked about at every encounter with the patient (excluding sexual functioning and leisure activities). In summary, this Delphi panel yielded agreement that functional recovery is multidimensional and should be assessed regularly as part of usual care on an individual patient level in FEP and EP schizophrenia patients.
FundingLundbeck Otsuka Alliance
Delphi Panel on the Relationship Between Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics and Longer-Term Functional Recovery in First-Episode and Early-Phase Schizophrenia Patients
- John M. Kane, Murat Yildirim, Jessica Madera-McDonough, Celso Arango, Andrea Fagiolini, Philip Gorwood, Navdeep Sahota, Christoph U. Correll
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 28 / Issue 2 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 April 2023, p. 252
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Schizophrenia is among the top ten causes of years lost due to disability. Goals of treatment are evolving beyond remission of psychotic symptoms to include physical and mental functioning, quality of life, and long-term functional recovery. Evidence has shown long-acting injectables (LAIs) are beneficial for schizophrenia patients by increasing treatment adherence and decreasing relapse and rehospitalisation. This potentially reduces disease progression and facilitates functional recovery. However, LAIs are underused and often seen as a last resort for first-episode (FEP) and early-phase (EP) patients, due to physicians’ lack of familiarity and stigma.
A three-round modified Delphi panel was held to gain expert consensus on an approach to functional recovery in FEP and EP patients with LAIs. A literature review and input from a steering committee of 5 experts in psychiatry informed the development of statements. Round one was carried out via one-to-one video conference interviews, and the subsequent rounds were conducted via electronic surveys, which enabled international collaboration. Delphi panellists were 17 psychiatrists with schizophrenia treatment experience, practicing in 7 countries (France, Italy, US, Germany, Spain, Denmark, and UK). Several analysis rules determined whether a statement could progress to the next round and specified the level of agreement required to achieve consensus. Measures of central tendencies (mode, mean) and variability (interquartile range) of aggregated responses from the previous round were reported to panelists to understand their response in relation to the group.
There was consensus (defined a priori as ≥80% agreement) on the 8 statements relating to long-term treatment goals and LAI links to functional recovery. LAI treatment in FEP and EP patients increases adherence and reduces treatment burden and functional decline compared to the same and other oral medication. Additionally, there was consensus that LAIs lead to better treatment outcome and functional recovery. Other important factors to achieving functional recovery include patient attitude towards treatment and psychoeducation. Furthermore, consensus was reached that functional recovery and quality of life are linked. In summary, this Delphi panel yielded agreement that functional recovery is a reachable goal for FEP and EP patients and can be enhanced using LAIs.
FundingLundbeck Otsuka Alliance
Prevention in Practice: Improving Communication on the Benefits of Treatments for Schizophrenia
- Pedro Such, Jessica Madera-McDonough, Murat Yildirim
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 28 / Issue 2 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 April 2023, p. 256
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Introduction
Antipsychotic treatment can help improve outcomes in schizophrenia by reducing the risk of relapse and psychiatric hospitalization, and increasing rates of remission and recovery, particularly when used early in the disease course. However, adherence to oral antipsychotics is often poor. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic formulations are associated with significant improvements in treatment adherence compared with oral medications, but LAIs are not widely used in early-phase schizophrenia.
MethodsAn educational training program, called “Prevention in Practice,” was developed to offer clinicians a range of innovative, web-based, patient-centered resources, including virtual role-play and educational films, that aim to improve communication between clinicians and patients and help progress care for patients with early-phase schizophrenia. The program was based on findings from the PRELAPSE study, in which clinicians received training to improve communication with patients. The PRELAPSE trial was a cluster randomized study conducted in 39 mental health centers across 19 US states. Sites were randomized to encourage treatment with the LAI aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg (AOM 400) or to provide treatment as usual. Eligible patients had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, <5 years of lifetime antipsychotic use, and were aged 18–35 years. The objective was to evaluate whether use of the LAI delayed time to first hospitalization in early-phase schizophrenia, compared with usual care. Clinicians received training on the rationale for LAI use in early psychosis, transitioning to LAIs, and discussing LAIs with patients and families. Communication training included the principles of shared decision-making, suggested responses to frequently asked questions, and role-playing.
ResultsIn PRELAPSE, the sites randomized to encourage LAI treatment enrolled 234 patients and the sites randomized to usual care enrolled 255 patients. Training clinicians to improve their communication with patients made a difference—91% of patients with early-phase schizophrenia were willing to use LAI treatment at least once in the first 3 months of the study. Furthermore, the results showed that AOM 400 significantly prolonged time to first psychiatric hospitalization compared with usual care (hazard ratio: 0.56 [95% confidence interval: 0.34, 0.92]; p=0.02).
ConclusionsOffering clinicians training to improve their communication with patients, through techniques such as shared decision-making and motivational interviewing, may increase LAI use in early-phase schizophrenia. ”Prevention in Practice” is now available in in different countries and languages.
FundingOtsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Princeton, NJ, USA) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Valby, Denmark).
Safety and Efficacy of Aripiprazole 2-Month Ready-to-Use 960 mg in Adult Patients With Bipolar I Disorder
- Jessica Madera-McDonough, Pedro Such, Murat Yildirim, Roger S. McIntyre
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 28 / Issue 2 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 April 2023, p. 244
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Background
Aripiprazole 2-month ready-to-use 960 mg (Ari 2MRTU 960) is a new long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic formulation for gluteal administration every 2 months. This 32-week trial evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of multiple-dose administration of Ari 2MRTU 960 in clinically stable adults with schizophrenia or BP-I, versus that of aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg (AOM 400; an LAI indicated for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adult patients stabilized with oral aripiprazole and maintenance monotherapy treatment of BP-I [indication varies by country]). Safety and efficacy outcomes in the subpopulation of patients with BP-I are reported here.
MethodsPatients with BP-I were randomized to receive Ari 2MRTU 960 every 56±2 days or AOM 400 every 28±2 days. Safety and tolerability assessments included adverse event (AE) reporting, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores (scale range: 0–100) for patient-reported injection site pain, and extrapyramidal symptom (EPS) monitoring. Efficacy was assessed at Week 32 by Clinical Global Impression – Improvement (CGI-I), Clinical Global Impression – Bipolar Version (CGI-BP), Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic Treatment – Short Form (SWN-S), Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).
ResultsStudy completion rate was 72.5% (29/40 patients) in the Ari 2MRTU 960 group and 70.7% (29/41 patients) in the AOM 400 group. Demographics and baseline disease characteristics were generally well balanced between treatment groups. Treatment-emergent AE (TEAE) incidence was 82.5% with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 87.8% with AOM 400. The most frequent TEAEs were increased weight (Ari 2MRTU 960, 25.0%; AOM 400, 26.8%) and injection site pain (Ari 2MRTU 960, 25.0%; AOM 400, 7.3%). Mean (standard deviation [SD]) VAS score for pain after last injection was 1.2 (2.07) with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 1.3 (2.19) with AOM 400. Minimal change was seen in EPS in either group. At Week 32, mean (SD) CGI-I score was 3.1 [1.2] with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 3.2 [1.5] with AOM 400, and there was minimal mean (SD) change from baseline in CGI-BP score (Ari 2MRTU 960, -0.2 [1.0]; AOM 400, -0.6 [1.2]). Mean (SD) change from baseline in SWN-S Total score was 10.3 (16.1) with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 3.4 (21.4) with AOM 400. There was no clinically meaningful difference between the groups in MADRS Total score or YMRS Total score (difference of least squares mean change from baseline [95% confidence interval]: MADRS Total score -2.1 [-6.3, 2.1], p=0.3185; YMRS Total score 0.1 [-1.8, 2.1], p=0.8995).
ConclusionsIn patients with BP-I, Ari 2MRTU 960 was generally well tolerated, and clinical stability was maintained during the study.
FundingOtsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Princeton, NJ, USA) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Valby, Denmark).
Safety And Efficacy of Aripiprazole 2-Month Ready-to-Use 960 mg in Adult Patients With Schizophrenia
- Pedro Such, Murat Yildirim, Jessica Madera-McDonough, Leslie Citrome
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 28 / Issue 2 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 April 2023, pp. 242-243
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Background
Aripiprazole 2-month ready-to-use 960 mg (Ari 2MRTU 960) is a new long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic formulation for gluteal administration every 2 months. This 32-week trial evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of multiple-dose administration of Ari 2MRTU 960 in clinically stable adults with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder (BP-I), versus that of aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg (AOM 400; an LAI indicated for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in adult patients stabilized with oral aripiprazole [indication varies by country]). Safety and efficacy outcomes in the subpopulation of patients with schizophrenia are reported here.
MethodsPatients with schizophrenia were randomized to receive Ari 2MRTU 960 every 56±2 days or AOM 400 every 28±2 days. Safety and tolerability assessments included adverse event (AE) reporting, Visual Analogue Scale [VAS] scores (scale range: 0–100) for patient-reported injection site pain, and extrapyramidal symptom (EPS) monitoring. Efficacy was evaluated at Week 32 using mean (standard deviation [SD]) Clinical Global Impression – Improvement (CGI-I) score, and mean (SD) change from baseline in Clinical Global Impression – Severity (CGI-S) score, Subjective Well-being under Neuroleptic Treatment – Short Form [SWN-S] Total score, and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total score.
ResultsStudy completion rate was 79.3% (73/92 patients) in the Ari 2MRTU 960 group and 67.7% (63/93 patients) in the AOM 400 group. Demographics and disease characteristics were well balanced between groups at baseline (mean [SD] PANSS Total score: Ari 2MRTU 960, 62.0 [13.5]; AOM 400, 61.8 [13.5]; mean (SD) CGI-S score: Ari 2MRTU 960, 3.3 [0.9]; AOM 400, 3.1 [0.9]). Treatment-emergent AE (TEAE) incidence was 66.3% with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 63.4% with AOM 400. The most frequent TEAEs were increased weight (Ari 2MRTU 960, 21.7%; AOM 400, 18.3%) and injection site pain (Ari 2MRTU 960, 15.2%; AOM 400, 9.7%). Mean (SD) VAS score for pain after last injection was 1.5 (4.58) with Ari 2MRTU 960 and 1.3 (2.79) with AOM 400. Minimal change was seen in EPS in either group. At Week 32, mean (SD) CGI-I score was similar between groups (Ari 2MRTU 960, 3.5 [1.0]; AOM 400, 3.6 [0.9]). Minimal change from baseline was seen at Week 32 in CGI-S score and SWN-S Total score. There was no clinically meaningful difference between the groups for PANSS Total score (difference of least squares mean change from baseline [95% confidence interval]: -0.9 [-3.5, 1.8]; p=0.5154).
ConclusionsIn patients with schizophrenia, administration of Ari 2MRTU 960, as compared with AOM 400, was generally well tolerated, and clinical stability was maintained during the study.
FundingOtsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Princeton, NJ, USA) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Valby, Denmark).
Safety And Tolerability of Aripiprazole 2-Month Ready-to-Use 960 mg in Adult Patients With Schizophrenia or Bipolar I Disorder
- Matthew Harlin, Murat Yildirim, Pedro Such, Jessica Madera-McDonough, Michael Jan, Frank Larsen
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 28 / Issue 2 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 April 2023, pp. 237-238
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Introduction
Aripiprazole 2-month ready-to-use 960 mg (Ari 2MRTU 960) is a new long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic formulation for gluteal administration every 2 months, intended for the treatment of schizophrenia and maintenance monotherapy treatment of bipolar I disorder (BP-I). This 32-week trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of multiple-dose gluteal administration of Ari 2MRTU 960 in clinically stable adult patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or BP-I, versus that of aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg (AOM 400; an LAI indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and maintenance monotherapy treatment of BP-I).
MethodsThis was an open-label, multiple-dose, randomized, parallel-arm trial conducted at 16 sites in the US. Eligible patients (N=266) were randomized to receive Ari 2MRTU 960 every 56±2 days (n=132; 4 injections in total) or AOM 400 every 28±2 days (n=134; 8 injections in total). Safety and tolerability were evaluated throughout the study; assessments included adverse event reporting, patient reporting of injection site pain, and monitoring of extrapyramidal symptoms.
ResultsIn the Ari 2MRTU group, 102 patients (77.3%) completed the study; in the AOM 400 group, 92 patients (68.7%) completed the study. The overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was similar between Ari 2MRTU 960 and AOM 400 (71.2% versus 70.9%, respectively). The most frequently reported TEAEs were increased weight (22.7% for Ari 2MRTU 960 versus 20.9% for AOM 400) and injection site pain (18.2% for Ari 2MRTU 960 versus 9.0% for AOM 400), none of which were assessed as serious or severe by the investigators. All injection site pain events in the Ari 2MRTU 960 group were assessed as mild or moderate in severity; most (15.9%) coincided with the first injection and resolved within 5 days. Extrapyramidal symptom scores remained unchanged in both treatment groups.
ConclusionsMultiple-dose administration of Ari 2MRTU 960 was generally well tolerated in patients with schizophrenia or BP-I and did not show any new safety concerns.
FundingOtsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Princeton, NJ, USA) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Valby, Denmark)
Pharmacokinetic Profile of Aripiprazole 2-Month Ready-to-Use 960 mg in Adult Patients With Schizophrenia or Bipolar I Disorder
- Matthew Harlin, Murat Yildirim, Pedro Such, Jessica Madera-McDonough, Frank Larsen
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- Journal:
- CNS Spectrums / Volume 28 / Issue 2 / April 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 April 2023, p. 256
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Introduction
Aripiprazole 2-month ready-to-use 960 mg (Ari 2MRTU 960) is a new long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic formulation for gluteal administration every 2 months, intended for the treatment of schizophrenia and maintenance monotherapy treatment of bipolar I disorder (BP-I). This 32-week trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of multiple-dose administration of Ari 2MRTU 960 in clinically stable adult patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or BP-I, versus that of aripiprazole once-monthly 400 mg (AOM 400; an LAI indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia and maintenance monotherapy treatment of BP-I).
MethodsThis was an open-label, multiple-dose, randomized, parallel-arm trial conducted at 16 sites in the US. Patients were randomized to receive Ari 2MRTU 960 every 56±2 days (n=132) or AOM 400 every 28±2 days (n=134). The primary objective was to establish the similarity of aripiprazole concentrations on the last day of the dosing interval, as well as exposure during the dosing interval (area under the concentration-time curve [AUC]), between Ari 2MRTU 960 and AOM 400 following multiple doses. It was pre-specified that the lower bound of the 90% confidence interval (CI) of the geometric means ratio (GMR) for these parameters must be >0.8.
ResultsIn the Ari 2MRTU 960 group, 102 patients (77.3%) completed the study; in the AOM 400 group, 92 patients (68.7%) completed the study. The GMR of C56 for Ari 2MRTU 960 to C28 for AOM 400 was 1.011 (90% CI: 0.893, 1.145). The GMR (90% CI) of AUC0–56 for Ari 2MRTU 960 to AUC0–28 for AOM 400 was 1.006 (90% CI: 0.851, 1.190). Mean (standard deviation) maximum aripiprazole plasma concentration was 342 (157) ng/ml after the fourth Ari 2MRTU 960 dose and 344 (212) ng/ml after the eighth AOM 400 dose.
ConclusionPharmacokinetic parameters were similar between Ari 2MRTU 960 and AOM 400.
FundingOtsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (Princeton, NJ, USA) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Valby, Denmark).