Lundbeck’s new schizophrenia treatment fails phase III trial

By PharmaCompass

2018-11-01

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Danish pharma company Lundbeck reported disappointing phase III results for its schizophrenia treatment. Lundbeck had high hopes from this new schizophrenia treatment, provisionally named Lu AF35700. The company thought it to be a superior treatment than its current offerings Risperidone or Olanzapine, and analysts were predicting blockbuster sales.

“The first phase III study for Lu AF35700, an investigational, novel, once-daily, oral antipsychotic drug candidate for the potential treatment of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), did not meet the primary endpoint of statistical superiority vs. conventional therapy,” a statement issued by Lundbeck said.

“Lu AF35700 showed good anti-psychotic effects, was well-tolerated and safe at 10 mg and 20 mg dosages in the study. Further analysis of the data is ongoing,” it added.

Anders Gersel Pedersen, Executive Vice President, Research and Development at Lundbeck said: “This is a setback for patients with schizophrenia, but we will continue to advance our pipeline of innovative therapies to meet the needs of patients suffering from psychiatric and neurological diseases.”

Lundbeck is estimated to lose US$ 4 billion due to this debacle. The company now has its hopes pinned on Foliglurax, a new treatment for Parkinson’s disease, which is in its second phase of testing, along with an Alzheimer’s treatment which is in phase one.

Earlier this month, Novo Nordisk announced its intention to produce treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – this is the first time the fellow Dane pharma giant has ever encroached on Lundbeck’s territory.

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