Monthly aripiprazole lauroxil improves social functioning in acute schizophrenia

Once monthly aripiprazole lauroxil improved social and functional outcomes among individuals hospitalized with acute schizophrenia, according to recent findings.

To assess social and functional outcomes among individuals who received aripiprazole lauroxil for acute treatment of schizophrenia, researchers conducted a post-hoc analysis of a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial among 623 individuals hospitalized with an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. Study participants were randomly assigned to receive 441 mg or 882 mg of aripiprazole lauroxil or placebo once monthly.

Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) prosocial scale scores were statistically significantly improved as early as the first week of treatment and were maintained to day 85 for both dosages of aripiprazole lauroxil, according to researchers.

From baseline to day 85, there was a 6.6-point decrease in PANSSS prosocial scale scores among participants who received 441 mg and a 6.4-point decrease among participants who received 882 mg.

Four-item PANSS modified prosocial scale scores improved by 3.1 points among participants who received 441 mg and 3.2 points among those who received 882 mg from baseline to day 85.

Researchers observed clinically significant improvements in functioning as early as day 29.

By day 85, Personal and Social Performance scores improved among both dosage groups, with a 12.8-decrease among participants who received 441 mg and 14-point decrease among participants who received 882 mg.

Fewer participants who received 882 mg were severely functionally impaired at day 85, compared with those who received 441 mg (0.5% vs. 4.4%).

Overall, 57.2% of participants who received 441 mg and 60.5% who received 882 mg exhibited significantly improved functionality, compared with 30.7% of the placebo group.

These study findings suggested 12 weeks of aripiprazole lauroxil significantly improved social and functional outcomes in acute schizophrenia. – by Amanda Oldt

Reference:

Stanford AD, et al. Social and functional outcomes: results from a 12-week phase 3 study of 2 doses of aripiprazole lauroxil vs. placebo. Presented at: International Congress on Schizophrenia Research; March 24-28, 2017; San Diego.

Disclosure: The study was funded by Alkermes.