According to CATIE, Zyprexa(R) More Effective on Discontinuation Rate than Other Antipsychotics Studied
September 19 2005 - 2:37PM
PR Newswire (US)
Patients Taking Zyprexa Had a Longer Duration of Successful
Treatment INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --
Zyprexa(R) (olanzapine) was more effective on discontinuation rate
in patients with schizophrenia than were other medications studied,
according to the conclusions of the Clinical Antipsychotic Trial of
Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE). This unprecedented study
conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health will appear in
the Sept. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. CATIE
was designed to evaluate the overall clinical effectiveness of
antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia, as measured by
any-cause medication discontinuation, a measure that integrates
both the patients' and the doctors' judgment of how well a
medication works, its safety and how well the patient tolerates the
treatment. "We are pleased that CATIE showed Zyprexa to be more
effective on discontinuation rate than other medications studied,"
said Robert Baker, M.D., medical director, U.S. neuroscience, Eli
Lilly and Company. "The study also had favorable findings for
Zyprexa in terms of duration of successful treatment and risks of
rehospitalization. This is important to patients and doctors
because research shows that patients who stay on their medication
generally have greater improvement in symptoms, reducing
hospitalization and costs, and may function better in their daily
lives." The study authors also noted that patients taking Zyprexa
experienced greater weight gain and increases in measures of
glucose and lipid metabolism versus patients using other
antipsychotics that were studied. Information about adverse events
related to increases in blood glucose levels, lipid metabolism and
weight gain is included in the Zyprexa product label. For patients
who discontinued treatment due to adverse events, more patients
taking Zyprexa discontinued because of weight gain and metabolic
events. CATIE found that for Zyprexa the average time to
discontinuation was 9.2 months as compared with 4.6 months for
quetiapine, 4.8 months for risperidone, 3.5 months for ziprasidone
and 5.6 months for perphenazine. The differences were statistically
significant for olanzapine compared with risperidone and
quetiapine, but not for perphenazine or ziprasidone. Patients
taking Zyprexa also experienced fewer hospitalizations for
schizophrenia than patients taking other medications. Total PANSS
(Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) scores improved over time in
all groups, and patients taking Zyprexa had greater initial
improvement. "Schizophrenia is a complex disorder. Even in the
group with the lowest discontinuation rate -- patients on Zyprexa
-- more than half discontinued treatment within 18 months. This is
why Lilly continues to invest in research seeking new treatments as
well as programs to help patients benefit more fully from
treatments available today," said Baker. "We believe this study can
help clinicians renew their focus on aggressively finding the
treatment that will achieve the best possible results for each
patient with schizophrenia." Zyprexa(R) Background Zyprexa is
indicated in the United States for the short- and long-term
treatment of schizophrenia, acute mixed and manic episodes of
bipolar I disorder, and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder.
Since Zyprexa was introduced in 1996, it has been prescribed to
more than 18 million people worldwide. Zyprexa is not approved for
the treatment of patients with dementia- related psychosis. Elderly
patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical
antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death compared with
those patients taking a placebo. In addition, compared to elderly
patients with dementia-related psychosis taking a placebo, there
was a significantly higher incidence of cerebrovascular adverse
events in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated
with Zyprexa. Hyperglycemia, in some cases extreme and associated
with ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar coma or death, has been reported
in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, including
Zyprexa. Prescribing should be consistent with the need to minimize
the risk of neuroleptic malignant syndrome, tardive dyskinesia,
seizures and orthostatic hypotension. The most common
treatment-emergent adverse event associated with Zyprexa in
placebo-controlled, short-term schizophrenia and bipolar mania
trials was somnolence. Other common events were dizziness, weight
gain, personality disorder (COSTART term for nonaggressive
objectionable behavior), constipation, akathisia, postural
hypotension, dry mouth, asthenia, dyspepsia, increased appetite and
tremor. Full prescribing information, including a boxed warning, is
available at http://www.zyprexa.com/. About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a
growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class
pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its
own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent
scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.,
Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for
some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional
information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/.
C-LLY (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO DATASOURCE:
Eli Lilly and Company CONTACT: Heather Lusk, +1-317-433-5600, or
Carole Copeland, +1-317-277-3661, both of Eli Lilly and Company
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