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Tolerability of cariprazine in the early stage of schizophrenia: A pooled, post-hoc analysis of 4 phase ii/iii double-blind placebo-controlled trials

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

In the early stage of schizophrenia (first 5 years), the most important clinical target besides symptom control is relapse prevention as each relapse significantly decreases the possibility of preferable long-term outcomes. Early discontinuation of antipsychotic medication due to intolerable side-effects is one of the most common causes of relapse.

Objectives

This poster aims to present cariprazine’s tolerability in the early stage of schizophrenia.

Methods

Data from 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (NCT00404573, NCT01104766, NCT01104779, NCT00694707) with similar design (1 week of wash out period, 6 weeks of treatment and 2-4 weeks of follow-up) were pooled. For the post-hoc analysis, patients with early stage of schizophrenia (defined as having a disease duration of less than 5 years) were extracted from the whole safety population, and approved doses of cariprazine (1.5-6.0 mg/day) were combined. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and discontinuation rates were analysed versus placebo.

Results

Overall, 169 placebo- (PBO) and 322 cariprazine-treated (CAR) patients were identified as having schizophrenia for less than 5 years. 67.7% cariprazine- and 56.2% placebo-treated patients reported at least one TEAE; most frequently insomnia (10.9 % CAR; 12.4% PBO), akathisia (9.6% CAR; 2.4% PBO) and extrapyramidal symptoms (9.3% CAR; 1.8% PBO). Discontinuation due to adverse events was reported in only 8.4% of cariprazine- and 14.8% of placebo-treated patients. Relapse occurred in 3.1% of cariprazine- and 5.3% of placebo-treated patients.

Conclusions

Cariprazine was generally well-tolerated in the early stage of schizophrenia; given the limitations of this analysis, additional research is warranted.

Conflict of interest

Studies were funded by Gedeon Richter Plc. and Allergan Plc (prior to its acquisition by AbbVie). Dombi, Acsai, Dr. Barabássy, Dr. Sebe, Dr. Laszlovszky, Dr Vass, Dr. Szatmári and Dr. Németh are employees of Gedeon Richter Plc., Dr. Earley and Dr. Patel a

SUBMITTER: Dombi Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9475661 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Abstract Background: Relapse is common in schizophrenia; identifying characteristics associated with relapse may help improve disease management. Cariprazine, a D3/D2 receptor partial agonist, is approved in the United States for the treatment of schizophrenia. Post hoc analyses of a long-term, randomized, double-blind (up to 72 weeks), relapse prevention trial (NCT01412060) were performed to identify characteristics associated with relapse in placebo- and cariprazine-treated patients. Methods: Baseline characteristics in cariprazine-treated (3, 6, or 9 mg/d) or placebo-treated patients were evaluated in relation to relapse status. Demographic variables included age, sex, race, weight, and BMI. Psychiatric history variables included mean age at illness onset, duration of schizophrenia, duration of current episode, number of lifetime psychotic episodes, previous hospitalizations, and acute exacerbations in the past year. Baseline rating scale severity scores (eg, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANSS] and Clinical Global Impressions-Severity [CGI-S]) were evaluated. Differences in demographic and psychiatric history variables were evaluated using the Student t test (categorical variables) or Fisher exact test (continuous variables); rating scale severity scores were evaluated with 2-way ANOVA with relapse and study center as factors. Results: Relapse occurred in nearly twice as many placebo-treated (47.5%) as cariprazine-treated patients (24.8%) (hazard ratio [95% CI] = 0.45 [0.28, 0.73]). For cariprazine-treated patients who relapsed vs those who did not, significant differences were seen in baseline age (mean, 43 vs 38 y), weight (85 vs 73 kg), BMI (29 vs 26 kg/m2), and race (all, P < .05); for placebo-treated patients, there were no significant differences in demographic variables based on relapse status. In both treatment groups, patients who relapsed vs patients who did not relapse had a greater mean number of previous hospitalizations (cariprazine = 8.4 vs 4.3 [P = .0199]; placebo = 4.9 vs 2.8 [P = .0183]). Cariprazine patients who relapsed vs those who did not had longer illness duration (18.1 y vs 9.9 [P = .0005]); the number of lifetime episodes also differed by relapse status (P = .0016), with a greater percentage of relapsed patients experiencing ≥5 episodes. Baseline PANSS total score and CGI-S scores were not significantly different in relapsed vs nonrelapsed patients in either treatment group. Conclusion: While patients treated with cariprazine had a lower rate of relapse than placebo overall, the results suggest that patients who were older, heavier, or had a later stage of illness may be more prone to relapse during cariprazine treatment. In patients randomized to placebo, demographic characteristics and psychiatric history were not as meaningful in predicting relapse. Greater symptom severity at baseline did not appear to be associated with relapse.

Project description:BackgroundLong-term treatment with antipsychotic agents is indicated for patients with schizophrenia, but treatment is associated with adverse events (AEs) that contribute to medication discontinuation and nonadherence. Understanding drug safety profiles is critical to avoid unwanted side effects. Cariprazine is a potent dopamine D3/D2 receptor partial agonist that is approved for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia (EU, US) and acute manic/mixed and depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder (US).MethodsPost hoc analyses were conducted to characterize the safety profile of cariprazine within the recommended 1.5-6 mg/d dose range for schizophrenia; data from 8 short- or long-term clinical trials were analyzed.ResultsIn the pooled cariprazine-treated safety population (n=2048), the rate of study completion was 52.8%, with withdrawal of consent, insufficient response, and AEs the most common reasons for premature discontinuation. The most commonly reported AEs (>10%) in the overall cariprazine-treatment group were akathisia (14.6%), insomnia (14.0%), and headache (12.1%); most AEs were considered mild (71.0%) or moderate (26.5%). Most akathisia was mild/moderate (97.5%) and >93% of patients remained on treatment; akathisia events were managed by rescue medications (56.3%) or dose reduction (18.3%). The metabolic profile of cariprazine was neutral in patients with short- and long-term exposure; mean weight gain was 1 kg for overall cariprazine, with an AE of weight increased reported for 5.1%. Other AEs of special interest that occurred at >3% for overall cariprazine were extrapyramidal disorder (7.0%), sedation (3.7%), and somnolence (3.1%); prolactin elevation, cognition impairment, sexual dysfunction, suicidality, and QT prolongation occurred at ≤1%.ConclusionAkathisia, the most common cariprazine-related AE, was mild/moderate and resulted in few study discontinuations; symptoms were well managed and most patients remained on treatment. Results of this analysis indicated that cariprazine in the recommended dose range was safe and generally well tolerated in patients with schizophrenia.Trial registrationStudies registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00404573, NCT01104779, NCT00694707, NCT01104766, NCT01104792, NCT00839852, and NCT01412060) and EudraCT (2012-005485-36).

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