Lumateperone for the Treatment of Adults With Schizophrenia: a Systematic Review

Efficacy and safety of lumateperone for bipolar depression and schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lumateperone in treating bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases and websites from inception to July 16, 2024, to identify both published and unpublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects or fixed-effects models depending on statistical heterogeneity. Relative risks (RRs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to summarize the effects. Out of 931 records screened, 7 RCTs (four focusing on bipolar depression and 3 on schizophrenia) were eligible for inclusion. Lumateperone was efficacious in reducing depressive symptoms in bipolar depression (SMDs = -0.36, 95% CI: -.59 to -.13). In treating schizophrenia, lumateperone exhibited a lower combined SMD of -0.14 (95% CI: -.27 to 0, P = .051, I² = 49.6%), showing no significant difference from the placebo group, although the P-value approached significance. The lumateperone group showed significantly higher response rates compared with placebo in both bipolar depression (RRs = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.51) and schizophrenia (RRs = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.12 to 1.86). Common treatment-emergent adverse events included somnolence, dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, and headache (RRs = 1.30 to 3.29). Importantly, lumateperone did not significantly increase extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS, RRs = 1.46, 95% CI = .84 to 2.53). Lumateperone is effective in treating bipolar depression but does not significantly reduce symptom severity in schizophrenia. It has a favorable safety and tolerability profile. However, caution is warranted in interpreting these findings due to the limited number of studies included.

Adverse event signal mining and severe adverse event influencing factor analysis of Lumateperone based on FAERS database

Background

Lumateperone has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults since 2019, however, there is still a lack of data report on adverse reactions in real-world settings. Conducting data mining on adverse events (AEs) associated with Lumateperone and investigating the risk factors for serious AEs can provide valuable insights for its clinical practice.

Methods

AE reports in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from 2019 Q4 (FDA approval of Lumateperone) to 2024 Q1 were collected and analyzed. Disproportionality in Lumateperone-associated AEs was evaluated using the following parameters: Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and Multi-item Gamma Poisson Shrinker (MGPS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors for Lumateperone-induced severe AEs.

Results

A total of 2,644 reports defined Lumateperone as the primary suspected drug was collected, including 739 reports classified as severe AEs and 1905 reports as non-severe AEs. The analysis revealed that 130 preferred terms (PTs) with significant disproportionality were based on the four algorithms, 67 (51.53%) of which were not included in the product labeling, affecting 6 systems and organs. In addition, dizziness (81 cases) was the most reported Lumateperone-associated severe AEs, and tardive dyskinesia showed the strongest signal (ROR = 186.24). Logistic regression analysis indicated that gender, bipolar II disorder, and concomitant drug use are independent risk factors for Lumateperone-associated severe AEs. Specifically, female patients had a 1.811-fold increased risk compared with male patients (OR = 1.811 [1.302, 2.519], p = 0.000), while patients with bipolar II disorder had a 1.695-fold increased risk compared with patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (OR = 1.695 [1.320, 2.178], p = 0.000). Conversely, concomitant use of CYP3A4 inhibitors or drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 was associated with a decreased risk of severe AEs (OR = 0.524 [0.434, 0.633], P = 0.000).

Conclusion

Collectively, this study provides critical insights into the safety profile of Lumateperone. It highlights the need for cautious use in high-risk populations, such as females and individuals with bipolar II disorder, and emphasizes the importance of monitoring for AEs, including dizziness and tardive dyskinesia. Healthcare also should remain alert to potential AEs not listed in the prescribing information to ensure medical safety.

Pharmacological Treatments of Negative Symptoms in Schizophrenia-An Update

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic disorder comprising positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive deficits. Negative symptoms are associated with stigma, worse functional outcomes, and a significant deterioration in quality of life. Clinical diagnosis is challenging despite its significance, and current treatments offer little improvement in the burden of negative symptoms. This article reviews current pharmacological strategies for treating negative symptoms. Dopaminergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, noradrenergic, cholinergic, anti-inflammatory compounds, hormones, and psychostimulants are explored. Finally, we review pharmacological global treatment guidelines for negative symptoms. In general, switching to a second-generation antipsychotic seems to be most often recommended for patients with schizophrenia on first-generation antipsychotics, and an add-on antidepressant is considered when depression is also present. However, the treatment of negative symptoms remains an unmet need. Future, larger clinical studies and meta-analyses are needed to establish effective pharmacological agents for the effective treatment of negative symptoms.

Post-marketing safety concerns with lumateperone: a pharmacovigilance analysis based on the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) database

Objective

Lumateperone, a novel antipsychotic drug that was granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in December 2019, remains insufficiently explored for its adverse event profile. This study used the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database to explore its potential safety issues.

Methods

This study conducted a retrospective analysis of FAERS data from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the third quarter of 2023, extracting reports related to lumateperone. Disproportionality analysis using Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) and Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN) algorithms was employed to detect signals of adverse events (AEs).

Results

Our research processed 4,777 pertinent AE disclosures related to lumateperone, unveiling 125 signals that satisfied both ROR and BCPNN evaluative benchmarks across 26 System Organ Classes (SOCs). Intriguingly, 108 of these signals were categorized as unanticipated, spotlighting notable psychiatric manifestations such as mania (ROR = 73.82, 95% CI = 57.09-95.46; IC = 6.16, IC025 = 4.49), and hypomania (ROR = 34.74, 95% CI = 15.54-77.64; IC = 5.10, IC025 = 3.43), alongside non-psychiatric phenomena like urinary retention (ROR = 3.59, 95% CI = 1.80-7.19; IC = 1.84, IC025 = 0.18) and serotonin syndrome (ROR = 8.69, 95% CI = 4.81-15.72; IC = 3.11, IC025 = 1.45).

Conclusion

This research provides real-world safety data on lumateperone post-marketing and is an important supplement to the information from clinical trial studies. Healthcare professionals should be vigilant for the risk of a manic switch in patients with bipolar depression who are administered lumateperone. More epidemiological studies are needed in the future to explore and further evaluate the risk-benefit issue of lumateperone.

Psychotropic Drug-Related Weight Gain and Its Treatment

Psychotropic drug-related weight gain (PDWG) is a common occurrence and is highly associated with non-initiation, discontinuation, and dissatisfaction with psychiatric drugs. Moreover, PDWG intersects with the elevated risk for obesity and associated morbidity that has been amply reported in the psychiatric population. Evidence indicates that differential liability for PDWG exists for antipsychotics, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. During the past two decades, agents within these classes have become available with significantly lower or no liability for PDWG and as such should be prioritized. Although lithium is associated with weight gain, the overall extent of weight gain is significantly lower than previously estimated. The benefit of lifestyle and behavioral modification for obesity and/or PDWG in psychiatric populations is established, with effectiveness similar to that in the general population. Metformin is the most studied pharmacological treatment in the prevention and treatment of PDWG, and promising data are emerging for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (e.g., liraglutide, exenatide, semaglutide). Most pharmacologic antidotes for PDWG are supported with low-confidence data (e.g., topiramate, histamine-2 receptor antagonists). Future vistas for pharmacologic treatment for PDWG include large, adequately controlled studies with GLP-1 receptor agonists and possibly GLP-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide co-agonists (e.g., tirzepatide) as well as specific dietary modifications.

Novel Compounds in the Treatment of Schizophrenia-A Selective Review

Schizophrenia is a chronic neuropsychiatric syndrome that significantly impacts daily function and quality of life. All of the available guidelines suggest a combined treatment approach with pharmacologic agents and psychological interventions. However, one in three patients is a non-responder, the effect on negative and cognitive symptoms is limited, and many drug-related adverse effects complicate clinical management. As a result, discovering novel drugs for schizophrenia presents a significant challenge for psychopharmacology. This selective review of the literature aims to outline the current knowledge on the aetiopathogenesis of schizophrenia and to present the recently approved and newly discovered pharmacological substances in treating schizophrenia. We discuss ten novel drugs, three of which have been approved by the FDA (Olanzapine/Samidorphan, Lumateperone, and Pimavanserin). The rest are under clinical trial investigation (Brilaroxazine, Xanomeline/Trospium, Emraclidine, Ulotaront, Sodium Benzoate, Luvadaxistat, and Iclepertin). However, additional basic and clinical research is required not only to improve our understanding of the neurobiology and the potential novel targets in the treatment of schizophrenia, but also to establish more effective therapeutical interventions for the syndrome, including the attenuation of negative and cognitive symptoms and avoiding dopamine blockade-related adverse effects.

The Role of Ketamine in the Treatment of Bipolar Depression: A Scoping Review

Bipolar depression remains a clinical challenge with a quarter of patients failing to respond to initial conventional treatments. Although ketamine has been extensively studied in unipolar depression, its role in bipolar disorder remains inconclusive. The aim of our scoping review was to comprehensively synthesize the current clinical literature around ketamine use in bipolar depression. A total of 10 clinical studies (5 randomized controlled trials and 5 open label studies) were selected. The preliminary evidence, albeit weak, suggests that ketamine is a promising treatment and calls for further interest from the research community. Overall, ketamine treatment appeared to be tolerable with minimal risk for manic/hypomanic switching and showed some effectiveness across parameters of depression and suicidality. Moreover, ketamine is a potential treatment agent in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression with promising data extracted from extant controlled trials and real-world effectiveness studies. Future studies are needed to identify ketamine's role in acute and maintenance treatment phases of bipolar depression. Moreover, future researchers should study the recurrence prevention and anti-suicidal effects of ketamine in the treatment of bipolar depression.