Once-daily trospium chloride 60 mg extended-release provides effective, long-term relief of overactive bladder syndrome symptoms

Efficacy and safety of the muscarinic receptor agonist KarXT (xanomeline-trospium) in schizophrenia (EMERGENT-2) in the USA: results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose phase 3 trial

BACKGROUND

New treatments with new mechanisms are urgently needed for people with schizophrenia. Xanomeline is a dual M1 and M4-preferring muscarinic receptor agonist that does not block D2 dopamine receptors, unlike all currently approved treatments for schizophrenia. Xanomeline-trospium (KarXT) combines xanomeline with the peripherally restricted muscarinic receptor antagonist trospium chloride with the goal of ameliorating xanomeline-related adverse events associated with peripheral muscarinic receptors. The EMERGENT-2 trial aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of KarXT in people with schizophrenia experiencing acute psychosis.

METHODS

EMERGENT-2 was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose, 5-week, inpatient, phase 3 trial in people with schizophrenia. Participants were adults aged 18-65 years with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who had a recent worsening of psychosis warranting hospital admission, a Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score of 80 or higher, and a Clinical Global Impression-Severity score of 4 or higher. The participants were recruited from 22 inpatient sites in the USA, and were randomly assigned (1:1) to KarXT or placebo twice per day. Participants randomly assigned to KarXT received 50 mg xanomeline and 20 mg trospium twice per day for the first 2 days and then 100 mg xanomeline and 20 mg trospium twice per day for days 3-7. Beginning on day 8, KarXT dosing was flexible with an optional increase to 125 mg xanomeline and 30 mg trospium twice per day and the option to return to 100 mg xanomeline and 20 mg trospium based on tolerability. The primary endpoint was change from baseline to week 5 in PANSS total score. Efficacy analyses used the modified intention-to-treat population (all randomly assigned participants who received at least one trial medication dose and had at least one post-baseline PANSS assessment). Least squares mean change from baseline, SE, and least squares mean difference between the KarXT and placebo groups at week 5, along with the 95% CI and two-sided p values were calculated for the primary and secondary continuous efficacy endpoints. Safety analyses included all participants receiving at least one trial medication dose and used descriptive statistics. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04659161).

FINDINGS

From Dec 16, 2020, to April 13, 2022, of 407 people who were screened, 252 participants meeting enrolment criteria were randomly assigned to the KarXT (n=126) or placebo (n=126). Baseline PANSS total scores were 98·3 (KarXT; n=126) and 97·9 (placebo; n=125). The trial met the primary endpoint with a mean change from baseline to week 5 in PANSS total score that favoured KarXT (-21·2 points, SE 1·7) versus placebo (-11·6 points, 1·6; least squares mean difference -9·6; 95% CI -13·9 to -5·2; p<0·0001, Cohen's d effect size=0·61). All secondary endpoints were also met, and favoured KarXT versus placebo (p<0·05). The most common adverse events with KarXT versus placebo were constipation (27 [21%] vs 13 [10%]), dyspepsia (24 [19%] vs 10 [8%]), headache (17 [14%] vs 15 [12%]), nausea (24 [19%] vs seven [6%]), vomiting (18 [14%] vs one [1%]), hypertension (12 [10%] vs one [1%]), dizziness (11 [9%] vs four [3%]), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (eight [6%] vs zero [0%]), and diarrhoea (seven [6%] vs four [3%]). Treatment-emergent adverse event rates of extrapyramidal motor symptoms (KarXT, zero [0%] vs placebo, zero [0%]), akathisia (one [1%] vs one [1%]), weight gain (zero [0%] vs one [1%]), and somnolence (six [5%] vs five [4%]) were similar between the KarXT and placebo groups, as were adverse event-related discontinuation rates (nine [7%] vs seven [6%]).

INTERPRETATION

In the EMERGENT-2 trial, KarXT was effective in reducing positive and negative symptoms and was generally well tolerated. These results support the potential for KarXT to represent a new class of effective and well tolerated antipsychotic medicines based on activating muscarinic receptors, not the D2 dopamine receptor-blocking mechanism of all current antipsychotic medications. Results from additional trials, including the identical EMERGENT-3 trial and the 52-week, open-label EMERGENT-4 and EMERGENT-5 trials, will provide additional information on the efficacy and safety of KarXT in people with schizophrenia.

FUNDING

Karuna Therapeutics.

Efficacy of trospium for prevention of catheter-related bladder discomfort: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study

Background

Catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) is a frequent complaint after awakening from anesthesia in patients receiving perioperative bladder catheterization. Overactive bladder (OAB) and CRBD show similar symptoms; thus, drugs used for the management of OAB influence symptoms of CRBD. Trospium chloride has been found effective in managing resistant cases of OAB. We evaluated the efficacy of oral trospium on CRBD in the postoperative period.

Methods

Sixty-four male and female adult patients, with planned spinal surgery and requiring urinary bladder catheterization, were randomly divided into two groups of 32 each. Group T patients received 60 mg extended-release oral trospium (extended-release) 1 h before induction of anesthesia and Group C patients received a similar-looking placebo. The anesthetic technique was identical in both groups. The CRBD score was evaluated in the postoperative ward using a 4-point scale (1 = no discomfort, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = severe). Readings were recorded on arrival (0 h), and 1 h, 2 h, and 6 h postoperatively. All patients received fentanyl for postoperative pain relief.

Results

The incidence of CRBD was significantly higher in Group C than in Group T at 0 h (66% vs. 22%, P = 0.001) and 1 h postoperatively (72% vs. 28%, P = 0.001). The incidence of moderate to severe CRBD was higher in Group C at postoperative 2 h (82% vs. 14%, P = 0.004). There was no significant difference in postoperative fentanyl requirements.

Conclusions

Pretreatment with 60 mg extended release trospium reduced the incidence and severity of CRBD in the early postoperative period.

Treatment of Overactive Bladder in the Elderly Female: The Case for Trospium, Oxybutynin, Fesoterodine and Darifenacin

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common constellation of lower urinary tract storage symptoms that causes a significant impact on a person's quality of life. The elderly may be disproportionally impacted by these symptoms due to concomitant poor mobility, comorbid conditions such as diabetes and heart failure, and polypharmacy. While behavioral modification and pelvic floor muscle training should be considered first-line treatment options, pharmacotherapy remains the backbone of the therapeutic regimen. Trospium, oxybutynin, fesoterodine, and darifenacin all have unique properties that may confer certain advantages in the elderly population. The hydrophilicity and quaternary amine structure of trospium may limit its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and thus minimize impact on cognition in the elderly. In its oral form, oxybutynin may have the most significant effect on cognition; however, the transdermal preparations may be favorable in the elderly population due to the ability to avoid first-pass metabolism and its limited antimuscarinic adverse effects. Fesoterodine may be the most extensively studied OAB medication in the elderly population. Darifenacin has a strong affinity for the M3 receptor in the bladder, while having a weak affinity for the M1 receptor commonly found in the brain. It must be noted that all muscarinic receptor antagonists are associated with common adverse effects to some degree, and frequent re-evaluation of the elderly patient is necessary to confirm the proper benefit-to-risk profile.

[Trospium chloride once daily for overactive bladder syndrome: results of a multicenter observational study]

BACKGROUND

An extended release form of trospium chloride (Urivesc 60 mg® slow release capsules) was recently approved for the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). A multicentric, prospective observational study was conducted under routine private practice conditions to assess the safety and efficacy of this treatment in this indication, as well as the effect on quality of life parameters.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 305 patients with OAB syndrome (mean age 60 years, 79% females) were evaluated in this prospective, non-interventional observation study. All patients received trospium chloride once daily (Urivesc® 60 mg extended release capsules) in accordance with the approved prescribing instructions. At the start of therapy and after a treatment period of 4 and 13 weeks (median) the patient urological endpoints and quality of life parameters were assessed. Safety and tolerability were evaluated from the documentation of all adverse events occurring during the entire observation period.

RESULTS

Mean daily frequency of micturition decreased over the treatment period with once daily trospium chloride from 11.7 ± 4.3 to 7.7 ± 2.9 per 24 h (p<0.0001). In parallel the mean individual urine volume voided increased from 169.3 ± 79.8 ml to 238.4 ± 122.0 ml (p<0.0001). The proportion of patients with incontinence fell from 36.7% at the initiation of therapy to 20.3% at the end of therapy. Furthermore, the mean number of incontinence pads used declined from 3 per day to 1 per day. More than one third of initially incontinent patients (39.3%) needed no incontinence pads at the end of the treatment period. Quality of life parameters improved significantly in all five subsections recorded (i.e. daily life, family life, sleep quality, self esteem and ability to travel). The safety and tolerability of Urivesc 60 mg extended release was good, with a particularly low incidence of mouth dryness (1% of patients) reported. No central nervous system (CNS) associated adverse events and no serious adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSION

As a once daily formulation prescribed under normal private practice conditions, the new trospium chloride extended-release formulation consistently demonstrated efficacy and tolerability for treatment of OBS. Treatment with once daily trospium chloride 60 mg extended release capsules significantly improved the frequency of micturition and nocturia, as well as incontinence episodes and use of absorptive pads in this patient population, accompanied by an improvement in quality of life. The reason for the good tolerability, in particular the relatively low incidence of mouth dryness, is probably due to the lower peak plasma concentration of trospium (cmax) enabled by the modified-release galenical form employed by the 60 mg extended release formulation. Once daily administration enabled enhanced compliance for the modified release formulation and associated improved tolerability. The limited access of trospium to the CNS afforded by the intact blood-brain barrier and absence of metabolic interaction potential via cytochrome P450 are established characteristics of trospium chloride. This infers a lower potential to impair cognitive function and a lower potential for metabolic interactions with concomitant medications. In the context of elderly patients and multimorbid and polypharmacy scenarios, the sum of these characteristics may afford distinct advantages in treating OAB patients.