PERSERIS™, the First Once-Monthly Risperidone-Containing Subcutaneous Long-Acting Injectable, Now Available in the U.S. for the Treatment of Schizophrenia in Adults
PERSERIS delivers risperidone in a new once-monthly extended-release delivery system. Neither a loading dose nor any supplemental oral risperidone is recommended.
Slough, UK and Richmond, VA, 19 November 2018 – Indivior PLC (LON: INDV) today announced that PERSERISTM (risperidone) for extended-release injectable suspension is now available in the United States. PERSERIS is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.
“The availability of PERSERIS provides physicians with a new treatment option to help address some of the challenges in treating schizophrenia,” said Shaun Thaxter, Chief Executive Officer of Indivior. “We understand the complex patient journey of people living with schizophrenia and recognize the important role that long-acting injectables can play. PERSERIS is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to developing innovative treatments for people living with this debilitating condition.”
PERSERIS contains risperidone, a well-established medicine for schizophrenia, and uses an extended-release delivery system to form a subcutaneous (under the skin) depot that provides sustained levels of risperidone over one month. Clinically relevant levels were reached after the first injection of PERSERIS without use of a loading dose or any supplemental oral risperidone. Initial peak risperidone plasma levels occur within four to six hours of dosing and are due to an initial release of the drug during the depot formation process.
The FDA approval of PERSERIS was based on a Phase 3 study assessing the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the product in patients aged 18 to 55 years with DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia and an acute episode within eight weeks of screening for the study (NCT 02109562).
The Phase 3 study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled eight-week study of 354 patients. PERSERIS efficacy was demonstrated by a statistically significant improvement in the primary clinical endpoint, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score at Day 57. The improvement in Clinical Global Impression Severity of Illness (CGI-S), the secondary endpoint, was also statistically significant at Day 57. Clinical trials of PERSERIS were designed for the product to be initiated with neither a loading dose nor any supplemental risperidone.
The safety of PERSERIS was evaluated in 814 adults with schizophrenia who received at least one dose of PERSERIS during clinical trials. A total of 322 patients were treated with PERSERIS for at least six months, with 234 of those treated with PERSERIS for at least 12 months. The systemic safety profile of PERSERIS was consistent with the known safety profile of oral risperidone. The most common systemic adverse reactions in the pivotal Phase 3 trial (in ≥5 percent of PERSERIS patients and greater than twice placebo) were increased weight,
sedation/somnolence and musculoskeletal pain. The most common injection site reactions (≥5 percent of all patients across PERSERIS and placebo groups) were injection site pain and reddening of the skin.
“One of the biggest challenges physicians face when treating patients with schizophrenia is maintaining treatment over time, as the risk of relapse increases when treatment is interrupted,” said Dr. John G. Csernansky Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University. “The availability of PERSERIS provides physicians with a new risperidone LAI option that has important practical applications, such as subcutaneous administration, and oral supplementation or loading doses are not recommended."
Indivior is anticipating, and preparing for, a full promotional launch by the salesforce for PERSERIS in February 2019, contingent upon the U.S. Court of Appeals upholding the preliminary injunction on generic buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film against Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories.
PERSERIS will be distributed in a manner similar to all long-acting injectable antipsychotics and is available now for healthcare professionals to acquire through wholesalers, specialty distributors and pharmacies in an open network approach. For more information, visit www.PERSERIS.com.
The full prescribing information, including BOXED WARNING, for PERSERIS can be found here.
Photos and a multimedia gallery are available at www.IndiviorMedia.com.
About PERSERIS
INDICATION
PERSERIS (risperidone) is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.
HIGHLIGHTED SAFETY INFORMATION
WARNING: INCREASED MORTALITY IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH DEMENTIARELATED PSYCHOSIS
See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning.
- Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death.
- PERSERIS is not approved for use in patients with dementia-related psychosis.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
PERSERIS should not be administered to patients with known hypersensitivity to risperidone, paliperidone, or other components of PERSERIS.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Cerebrovascular Adverse Reactions, Including Stroke in Elderly Patients with Dementia-Related Psychosis: Increased risk of cerebrovascular adverse reactions (e.g., stroke, transient ischemic attack), including fatalities. PERSERIS is not approved for use in patients with dementia-related psychosis.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): Manage with immediate discontinuation and close monitoring.
Tardive Dyskinesia: Discontinue treatment if clinically appropriate.
Metabolic Changes: Monitor for hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and weight gain.
Hyperprolactinemia: Prolactin elevations occur and persist during chronic administration. Longstanding hyperprolactinemia, when associated with hypogonadism, may lead to decreased bone density in females and males.
Orthostatic Hypotension: Monitor heart rate and blood pressure and warn patients with known cardiovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease, and risk of dehydration or syncope.
Leukopenia, Neutropenia, and Agranulocytosis: Perform complete blood counts (CBC) in patients with a history of a clinically significant low white blood cell count (WBC) or history of leukopenia or neutropenia. Consider discontinuing PERSERIS if a clinically significant decline in WBC occurs in absence of other causative factors.
Potential for Cognitive and Motor Impairment: Use caution when operating machinery.
Seizures: Use caution in patients with a history of seizures or with conditions that lower the seizure threshold.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions in clinical trials (≥ 5% and greater than twice placebo) were increased weight, sedation/somnolence and musculoskeletal pain. The most common injection site reactions (≥ 5%) were injection site pain and erythema (reddening of the skin).
About Indivior
Indivior is a global specialty pharmaceutical company with a 20-year legacy of leadership in patient advocacy and health policy while providing education on evidence-based treatment models that have revolutionized modern addiction treatment. The name is the fusion of the words individual and endeavour, and the tagline “Focus on you” makes the Company’s commitment clear. Indivior is dedicated to transforming addiction from a global human crisis to a recognized and treated chronic disease. Building on its global portfolio of opioid dependence treatments, Indivior has a strong pipeline of product candidates designed to both expand on its heritage in this category and address other chronic conditions and cooccurring disorders of addiction, including alcohol use disorder and schizophrenia. Headquartered in the United States in Richmond, VA, Indivior employs more than 800 individuals globally and its portfolio of products is available in over 40 countries worldwide. Visit www.indivior.com to learn more.
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