Data on Invega Sustenna (paliperidone palmitate) in Schizophrenia published in JCP-Janssen Pharmaceuticals

A study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry shows that long-acting Invega Sustenna (paliperidone palmitate), from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, was effective six months longer than commonly prescribed oral antipsychotics in patients with schizophrenia, delaying relapse such as hospitalization, arrest and incarceration. Conducted over a 15-month period, the PRIDE study is the first prospective, randomized clinical trial to study schizophrenia treatments within the context of many real-world issues faced by patients in their daily lives, including challenging situations such as recent incarceration or substance abuse.

Study results indicate that Invega Sustenna delayed relapse for a significantly longer time period than did oral treatment (median 416 days vs. median 226 days; P = 0.011). The primary study endpoint was the length of time to the first treatment failure or relapse. In this study, treatment failure was defined as psychiatric hospitalization; arrest/incarceration; suicide; treatment supplementation or discontinuation of antipsychotic medication due to inadequate efficacy, safety concerns or tolerability issues; or increased psychiatric services to prevent psychiatric hospitalization. Arrest/incarceration and psychiatric hospitalization were the most common reasons for treatment failure in the paliperidone palmitate and oral antipsychotic groups (21.2 percent vs. 29.4 percent and 8.0 percent vs. 11.9 percent, respectively). No new safety issues were observed during the study.