Comparing Relapse Rates in Real-World Patients with Schizophrenia Who Were Adequately versus Not Adequately Treated with Paliperidone Palmitate Once-Monthly Injections Before Transitioning to Once-Every-3-Months Injections

Factors Associated with Symptom Stabilization that Allow for Successful Transition from Once-Monthly Paliperidone Palmitate to Three-Monthly Paliperidone Palmitate: A Post Hoc Analysis Examined Clinical Characteristics in Chinese Patients with Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Identifying key factors for a successful transition from once-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP1M) to three-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP3M) is crucial for improving treatment outcomes, enhancing patient adherence, and reducing relapse risk in patients with schizophrenia. Providing region-specific insights for evidence-based clinical decisions can aid clinicians in optimizing transition strategies for Chinese patients with schizophrenia. Therefore, the objective of this post hoc analysis of a double-blind parallel-group multicenter phase 3 study (NCT01515423) was to identify factors related to the disease stabilization that may allow for a successful transition from PP1M to PP3M in the treatment of Chinese patients with schizophrenia.

METHODS

Adults (18-70 years) diagnosed with schizophrenia using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition text revision, for over 1 year and with a baseline Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score between 70 and 120 were entered into an open-label (OL) phase receiving PP1M for 17 weeks. After the 17-week OL phase, patients who met the criteria necessary for stabilization were randomized (1:1) to PP1M (fixed-dose, 50, 75, 100, or 150 mg eq.) or PP3M (fixed-dose, 175, 263, 350, or 525 mg eq.) in a 48-week double-blind phase. Stabilization was defined as a PANSS total score < 70, PANSS item (P1, P2, P3, P6, P7, G8, G14) scores ≤ 4, and a reduction in Clinical Global Impression Severity (CGI-S) score of ≥ 1 from OL baseline. This post hoc analysis evaluated changes and trends in symptom severity using PANSS, changes in mental states using CGI-S, and changes in personal and social functioning using Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scores from baseline to the endpoint of the OL phase in patients who either met or did not meet the stabilization criteria (stabilized versus non-stabilized group). Comparison of changes and trends in the clinical scores between the stabilized group and non-stabilized group were conducted using linear mixed model and Mann-Kendall trend analysis, respectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore factors associated with stabilization status for transition.

RESULTS

Of 296 patients enrolled, 210 achieved disease stabilization (106 patients and 104 patients were randomized to PP1M and PP3M, respectively). Significant downward trends in the PANSS and CGI-S scores were detected in the stabilized patients (n = 210, ZPANSS = -2.21, p = 0.028; ZCGI-S = -2.21, p = 0.028) but not in the non-stabilized patients (n = 86). No significant trends in the PSP scores were observed in either group. The factors significantly associated with disease stabilization were the CGI-S score at baseline [odds ratio (OR) = 0.22, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.09, 0.5), reduction of the PANSS score at week 13 (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.17), and reduction of CGI-S score at week 13 (OR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.03, 5.02).

CONCLUSION

A lower CGI-S total score at baseline and greater reductions in PANSS and CGI-S scores at week 13 were associated with patients achieving disease stabilization, that may allow for a successful transition. Evidence from this study indicates that better disease condition at baseline, early functional improvement and symptomatic relief were the key factors associated with disease stabilization. The findings may guide clinicians to identify suitable patients for transition from PP1M to PP3M and further optimize the use of PP3M in China.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

EudraCT number: 2011-004889-15 and ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT01515423) for the original double-blind randomized study.

Preliminary data from a 4-year mirror-image and multicentre study of patients initiating paliperidone palmitate 6-monthly long-acting injectable antipsychotic: the Paliperidone 2 per Year study

Background

Paliperidone palmitate 6-monthly (PP6M) is the first long-acting antipsychotic injectable (LAI) to allow for only two medication administrations per year, though there is presently limited insight into its effectiveness and potential added value in real clinical practice conditions.

Objectives

To present our ongoing study and draw its preliminary data on patient characteristics initiating PP6M and adherence during the first year of treatment.

Methods

The paliperidone 2 per year (P2Y) study is a 4-year, multicentre, prospective mirror-image pragmatic study taking place at over 20 different sites in Europe. The mirror period covers 2 years either side of the PP6M LAI initiation. Retrospective data for the previous 2 years are collected for each patient from the electronic health records. Prospective data are recorded at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of drug administration and also cover information on concomitant psychiatric medication, relapses, hospital admissions, side effects, discontinuation and its reasons. Meanwhile, here we present preliminary data from the P2Y study at basal and 6-month period (first and second PP6M administration).

Results

At the point of PP6M initiation, the most frequent diagnosis was schizophrenia (69%), the clinical global impression scale mean score was 3.5 (moderately markedly ill) and the rate of previous hospital admissions per patient and year was 0.21. PP6M was initiated after a median of 3-4 years on previous treatment: 146 (73%) from paliperidone palmitate 3-monthly, 37 (19%) from paliperidone palmitate 1-monthly and 17 (9%) from other antipsychotics. The mean dose of the first PP6M was 1098.9 mg. The retention rate at 6 months and 1 year of treatment on PP6M in our cohort was 94%.

Conclusion

Patient and clinician preference for LAIs with longer dosing intervals was the main reason for PP6M initiation/switching resulting in high treatment persistence. Future data are needed to evaluate the full impact of PP6M in clinical practice.