Efficacy, safety and early response of paliperidone extended-release tablets (paliperidone ER): results of a 6-week, randomized, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND: Paliperidone extended-release tablet (paliperidone ER) is an oral psychotropic agent developed for schizophrenia treatment. Paliperidone (9-OH-risperidone, metabolite of risperidone), when used with OROS technology has a unique pharmacokinetic profile undergoing limited hepatic metabolism. METHODS: The efficacy and safety of once-daily paliperidone ER (3 mg, 9 mg and 15 mg) were compared with placebo in 618 patients with acute schizophrenia in a 6-week, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group study. An assay sensitivity group with known efficacy was included to confirm trial validity (olanzapine 10 mg). RESULTS: All doses of paliperidone ER demonstrated significant improvements in PANSS total and PANSS factors scores (p<0.05) and in personal and social functioning (p<0.001) compared with placebo. Symptom improvement has been observed at the first observation assessment (Day 4) (p<0.001) compared with placebo, suggesting a rapid onset of action for paliperidone ER. Paliperidone ER was associated with a low incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events. The incidence of movement disorder-related adverse events and rating scale scores were similar in the paliperidone ER 3 mg and placebo groups and increased with dose. Increases in prolactin plasma levels and dose-related increases in body weight (<2 kg) were observed; there were no significant changes in serum lipid or glucose levels. CONCLUSION: In this study, all doses of paliperidone ER were effective in significantly improving the symptoms of schizophrenia and personal and social functioning and were generally well tolerated. As such, paliperidone ER may provide a valuable new treatment option for patients with schizophrenia.     

Paliperidone extended-release tablets in patients with recently diagnosed schizophrenia

Aim: Effective early and persistent antipsychotic treatment in recently diagnosed schizophrenia may positively impact long-term outcomes. Paliperidone extended-release (ER) was assessed in this population. Methods: Post hoc analysis of pooled data from three 6-week, double-blind (DB), placebo-controlled, and three 1-year open-label (OL) studies of paliperidone ER in schizophrenia patients. Data stratified by time since diagnosis (≤3 vs. >3 years). Results: At DB (n = 1193) and OL baselines (n = 744), 259 (21.9%) and 188 (25.3%) patients were diagnosed ≤3 years. At DB end point, both populations improved with paliperidone ER versus placebo on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total, Clinical Global Impressions–Severity and Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale scores (all P < 0.05). At OL end point, there were significant improvements from DB baseline in both populations on these scales (P < 0.0001), with greater improvement in the ≤3-year population on PANSS total (P < 0.001) and PSP (P < 0.001) scores. During DB treatment, only the ≤3-year population reported adverse events (AEs) in ≥5% (placebo-adjusted rate) of subjects receiving paliperidone ER: akathisia, extrapyramidal disorder not otherwise specified and somnolence. During OL treatment, akathisia and somnolence occurred more frequently (≥5%) in the ≤3- versus >3-year population. OL study completion rates were 51.1% in ≤3-year, and 48.2% in >3-year subjects. Conclusions: Paliperidone ER significantly improved symptoms and functioning in schizophrenia patients, regardless of time since diagnosis. Recently diagnosed patients who continued treatment exhibited greater symptom reduction and functional benefit over the long term. Results also suggest that these patients may be more susceptible to certain AEs.     

Effects of acute paliperidone palmitate treatment in subjects with schizophrenia recently treated with oral risperidone

Objective

To examine efficacy and safety of acute treatment with paliperidone palmitate in subjects with schizophrenia whose disease remained symptomatic despite recent treatment with oral risperidone.

Methods

Post hoc analysis of a 13-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of subjects with symptomatic schizophrenia randomized to paliperidone palmitate 39, 156, or 234 mg (25, 100, or 150 mg equivalents of paliperidone) or placebo. Paliperidone palmitate subjects received a 234-mg day 1 dose, followed by their assigned dose on day 8 and monthly thereafter. Subjects treated with oral risperidone within 2 weeks before randomization regardless of duration were included. Assessments: PANSS, CGI-S, PSP scores; AEs. ANCOVA models with LOCF methodology evaluated treatment group differences.

Results

216 subjects received prior oral risperidone (paliperidone palmitate 39 mg, n = 53; 156 mg, n = 58; 234 mg, n = 48; placebo, n = 57). Median prior risperidone use was 22 days. Significant improvement was observed with paliperidone palmitate 156-mg or 234-mg versus placebo in least-squares mean (SE) score change at end point in PANSS total (156 mg, −15.8 [3.0], p = 0.0001; 234 mg, −17.6 [3.2], p = 0.0001), CGI-S (156 mg, −0.9 [0.2], p = 0.0068; 234 mg, −1.1 [0.2], p = 0.0003), and PSP (156 mg, 10.7 [2.3], p = 0.0061; 234 mg, 12.9 [2.4], p = 0.0009). Most common AEs (≥ 10%) in any paliperidone palmitate group were insomnia, anxiety, and headache.

Conclusions

In subjects with schizophrenia who recently received oral risperidone but who remained symptomatic, acute treatment with monthly doses of 156-mg and 234-mg paliperidone palmitate significantly improved clinical symptoms, global illness ratings, and functioning compared with placebo, with no unexpected safety findings.     

帕利哌酮缓释片治疗急性精神分裂症疗效及安全性的对照研究

Objective The study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of flexible doses of paliperidone extended-release tablets (paliperidone ER) (3 -12) mg/d comparing with olanzapine (5 -15)mg/d in acute hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. Methods All 288 hospitalized patients with DSM-Ⅳ schizophrenia were randomized into paliperidone ER ( n = 143 ) or olanzapine ( n=145 ) treatment in a 6-week, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group study. The primary efficacy measure was the total score changes of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Clinical Global Impression (CGI),response rate and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were adopted as secondary efficacy measures. Results Both paliperidone ER and olanzapine groups demonstrated a significant improvement in total PANSS score (P<0.001). The PANSS total score in paliperidone ER group was reduced (32.3 ± 17.1) at end point,and olanzapine group (34.1 ± 17.4). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P =0.369) after 6-week treatment. There were no statistical differences between two groups in CGI,response rate and VAS sleep quality assessments by the end of the treatment. The common adverse events were extrapyramidal symptoms, insomnia, constipation and prolactin increasing in paliperidone ER group,and somnolenee, EPS, abnormal liver function and abnormal lipid metabolism in olanzapine group.Conclusion Paliperidone ER and olanzapine are similarly effective in significantly improving the symptoms of inpatient with acute schizophrenia. Paliperidone ER demonstrates a favorable safety profile with fewer somnolence, abnormal liver function and abnormal lipid metabolism comparing with olanzapine.     

Paliperidone ER: a review of the clinical trial data

Paliperidone extended-release tablet (paliperidone ER; INVEGA^™) is an oral antipsychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia. The recommended dose range is 3–12 mg per day. Paliperidone ER utilizes the OROS^® delivery system, which allows for once-daily dosing. Its pharmacokinetic profile results in a more stable serum concentration. Paliperidone is 9-hydroxyrisperidone, the chief active metabolite of risperidone. It undergoes limited hepatic metabolism, thereby minimizing the risks of hepatic drug–drug and drug–disease interactions. Three 6-week trials in patients with acute schizophrenia reported that paliperidone ER was effective, well tolerated, and produced clinically meaningful improvements in personal and social functioning compared with placebo. Post-hoc analysis of these trials in various populations, including recently diagnosed, elderly and more severely ill patients, those with sleep disturbances and those with predominant negative symptoms demonstrated improvement as well. Paliperidone ER was also significantly better than placebo in the prevention of symptom recurrence in a 6-month maintenance study. The most common clinically relevant adverse events associated with paliperidone ER were extrapyramidal symptoms, tachycardia and somnolence. The incidence of Parkinsonism, akathisia and use of anticholinergic medications increased in a dose-related manner. Further, modest QTc interval prolongation was observed but did not produce clinical symptoms. Similar to risperidone, paliperidone ER is associated with increases in serum prolactin levels. Overall, paliperidone ER was effective, well tolerated and provides a new treatment option for patients with schizophrenia.     

A randomized,placebo‐ and active‐controlled study of paliperidone extended release for the treatment of acute manic and mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder

Vieta E, Nuamah IF, Lim P, Yuen EC, Palumbo JM, Hough DW, Berwaerts J. A randomized, placebo‐ and active‐controlled study of paliperidone extended release for the treatment of acute manic and mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder.
Bipolar Disord 2010: 12: 230–243. © 2010 The Authors.
Journal compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objectives: To evaluate the antimanic efficacy and safety of paliperidone extended‐release (ER) tablets in patients with bipolar I disorder. Methods: This study included a 3‐week, double‐blind, acute treatment phase (paliperidone ER versus placebo, with quetiapine as control), and a 9‐week, double‐blind, maintenance phase (paliperidone ER versus quetiapine). Patients [n = 493; Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score ≥ 20] were randomized (2:2:1) to flexibly dosed paliperidone ER (3–12 mg/day), quetiapine (400–800 mg/day), or placebo for the acute treatment phase. During the maintenance phase, patients assigned to placebo were switched to paliperidone ER but not included in analysis of efficacy. Results: Paliperidone ER was superior to placebo at the 3‐week endpoint {primary outcome; least‐squares mean difference in change from baseline in YMRS scores [95% confidence interval (CI)]: ?5.5 (?7.57; ?3.35); p < 0.001} and noninferior to quetiapine at the 12‐week endpoint [least‐squares mean difference (95% CI): 1.7 (?0.47; 3.96)]. The median mode dose during the 12‐week treatment period was 9 mg for paliperidone ER and 600 mg for quetiapine. The most common (≥ 10%) treatment‐emergent adverse events during the 12‐week period were: headache (16%), somnolence (10%), and akathisia (10%) for paliperidone ER; somnolence (21%), sedation and dry mouth (17% each), headache (14%), and dizziness (13%) for quetiapine. Body weight increase ≥ 7% from baseline to 12‐week endpoint was 8% with paliperidone ER and 17% with quetiapine. A higher percentage of paliperidone ER (13.9%) versus quetiapine patients (7.5%) ‘switched to depression’ at the12‐week endpoint. Conclusions: Paliperidone ER (3–12 mg/day) was efficacious and tolerable in the treatment of acute mania.     

Safety and tolerability of oral paliperidone extended-release tablets in elderly patients with schizophrenia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with six-month open-label extension.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this multicenter, international study was to evaluate safety and tolerability of paliperidone extended-release (ER) tablets in elderly (age > or =65 years) patients with schizophrenia. The authors conducted a 6-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, optional 24-week open-label extension study. Interventions consisted of flexible, once-daily doses of paliperidone ER (3-12 mg/day; 6-mg starting dose, adjusted in 3-mg dose increments) or placebo (2:1) during double-blind treatment and paliperidone ER only during open-label treatment. Measurements included adverse events, laboratory tests, physical examinations, 12-lead electrocardiograms, movement disorder rating scales, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, and Clinical Global Impression scale. The study was not powered to show statistical differences. RESULTS: Patients (N = 114) were predominantly female (73%); mean age was 70 years (double-blind phase). Concomitant disease presence was consistent with that of an older population. During the double-blind phase, discontinuation rates resulting from adverse events were similar between groups (paliperidone ER: 7%, placebo: 8%) as were incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events (paliperidone ER: 67%, placebo: 71%). Serious adverse events occurred in 3% of the paliperidone ER- and 8% of the placebo-treated patients. Elevated prolactin levels occurred in approximately one half of patients. No prolactin- or glucose treatment-related adverse events or noteworthy mean changes in body weight (0 kg [standard deviation: 2.1] and 0 kg [standard deviation: 2.3] for paliperidone ER and placebo, respectively) were observed. Safety and tolerability results in the extension were consistent with the shorter-term results. Efficacy measures did not show consistent statistical improvement between treatment groups. CONCLUSION: Paliperidone ER (3-12 mg/day) treatment over a 30-week period was generally well-tolerated and may improve symptom severity in elderly patients with schizophrenia.     

De novo cost-utility analysis of oral paliperidone in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder

ObjectivesThe aim of this analysis is to compare costs and effectiveness of paliperidone ER vs. placebo in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder (SAD) in the Czech Republic based on pooled clinical trial data.MethodsA de novo micro-simulation model was developed to assess the cost-utility analysis of paliperidone vs. placebo as there is lack of clinical data comparing paliperidone to other interventions. There are no studies primarily evaluating the efficacy of treatment of SAD with other antipsychotics. The model estimated effectiveness and costs of patients with SAD every week during 24-week time horizon. The effectiveness was defined as improvement of a patient's PANSS score where utilities were assigned to each modelled PANSS score. Based on the patient level data a linear mixed-effects model was used to estimate the regression equations of percentage decrease of PANSS score from the baseline. Utilities were computed using a regression function of patients' age, sex and PANSS score, which was adapted from a clinical study of patients with schizophrenia as there are no QoL data on SAD patients. Among relevant costs, reflecting the payer's perspective, costs of pharmacotherapy, concomitant medications and outpatient care were considered.ResultsThe average ICER of paliperidone compared to placebo reached 28,935 EUR/QALY. The probability of paliperidone being cost-effective compared to placebo was 99.5%.ConclusionsTreatment of SAD with paliperidone results in acceptable ICER and high probability of being cost-effective compared to placebo. Thus, it can be considered as a cost-effective treatment of patients with SAD in the Czech Republic.     

精神分裂症患者MDR1C3435T基因多态性与帕利哌酮疗效的相关性

目的:研究精神分裂症患者MDR1C3435T基因多态性与帕利哌酮缓释片疗效的相关性。方法:收集服用非典型抗精神病药物帕利哌酮缓释片患者68例,采用阳性和阴性症状量表(PANSS)评定疗效,个人与社会功能量表(PSP)评定社会功能,根据PANSS减分率(≥50%为有效)分为有效组和无效组。采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性分析(PCR-RFLP)技术检测其MDR1C3435T位点的基因型。将有效组和无效组的基因型进行卡方检验。结果:治疗前后PANSS及PSP量表评分比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.001),有效组与无效组基因型差异无统计学差别(P>0.05)结论:帕利哌酮缓释片治疗精神分裂症疗效肯定,未发现MDR1C3435T基因多态性与帕利哌酮的疗效有关。     

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study of the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole 10, 15 or 20 mg/day for the treatment of patients with acute exacerbations of schizophrenia

This double-blind, multicenter study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole 10, 15 or 20 mg/day versus placebo. Patients requiring inpatient hospitalization for acute exacerbation of schizophrenia were randomized to once-daily aripiprazole 10, 15 or 20 mg/day or placebo for 6 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome was the mean change from baseline to Week 6 in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total score (last observation carried forward). Patients with no improvement by Week 3 (Clinical Global Impression-Global Improvement score > or =4) could transfer to open-label aripiprazole 20mg/day. In total, 420 patients were randomized to placebo (n = 108); aripiprazole 10 mg/day (n = 106); 15 mg/day (n = 106); or 20 mg/day (n = 100). Of these, 142 patients (34%) completed 6 weeks of treatment, 131 (31%) discontinued to receive open-label aripiprazole, and 147 (35%) for other reasons. Aripiprazole 10, 15 and 20 mg/day each showed significantly greater improvements from baseline than placebo for all efficacy measures, including PANSS Total, Positive and Negative scores, and the CGI-Severity of Illness score. Significantly greater improvements in PANSS Total score versus placebo were achieved by Week 1 with 10 or 20 mg/day and Week 3 with 15 mg/day. All three doses were well tolerated. Overall, aripiprazole was not associated with clinically meaningful differences in extrapyramidal symptoms, prolactin or weight changes versus placebo. Aripiprazole 10 mg/day is effective and well tolerated for patients experiencing an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia.