The treatment is indicated for adult schizophrenia patients who have been stabilised with aripiprazole. Credit: Ground Picture / Shutterstock.com.

The European Commission (EC) has approved Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe and H Lundbeck’s Abilify Maintena 720mg/960mg (aripiprazole) for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia.

The treatment is indicated for use in adult schizophrenia patients who have been stabilised with aripiprazole.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

The approval marks the introduction of the first once-every-two-month long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotic in the European Union (EU) for this indication.

Designed for bi-monthly dosing through an intramuscular injection into the gluteal muscle, the new formulation of aripiprazole once every two months LAI is offered in a single-chamber prefilled syringe and does not need reconstitution.

The EC’s decision extends to all EU member states, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Otsuka Europe medical affairs vice-president and head Dr Peter Gillberg stated: “We welcome the EC approval of aripiprazole once-every-two-months LAI, which represents a significant milestone in offering adult patients with schizophrenia another simplified treatment regimen.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“We hope that this treatment may help to mitigate challenges with adherence, and potentially allow patients and their healthcare practitioners to focus on other elements of care.”

The approval was based on the results of a 32-week pharmacokinetic bridging clinical trial.

This study also assessed the safety and efficacy of Abilify Maintena as primary and secondary endpoints respectively.

The once-every-two-month LAI formulation demonstrated plasma concentrations, effectiveness, safety and tolerability profiles in line with the established once-monthly LAI (Abilify Maintena 400mg) dose in 266 adult subjects, 185 of whom were diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Lundbeck research and development executive vice-president and head Dr Johan Luthman stated: “Specifically designed for adult patients with schizophrenia who have been stabilised with aripiprazole, this treatment aims to increase patient adherence and convenience, contributing to the careful and comprehensive management of this chronic condition.”

Last month, Otsuka received breakthrough therapy designation for its rare kidney disease drug sibeprenlimab from the US Food and Drug Administration.