Teva Pharma’s New Data Reveals Key Insights For Schizophrenia Patients Switching To UZEDY® From Perseris®

Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. branch of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA), unveiled new data on clinical strategies for transitioning patients to UZEDY®, a long-acting injectable suspension of risperidone administered subcutaneously every one or two months for schizophrenia treatment in adults. 

This update, compared to the previous once-monthly Perseris® (RBP-7000), was shared at the 37th Annual European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress, held from September 21-24, 2024, in Milan, Italy. Schizophrenia management often involves switching between different treatment options, whether oral or long-acting injectables. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the best practices for moving patients from Perseris® to UZEDY®.

In a population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) analysis, simulations were carried out to forecast pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure levels when transitioning to UZEDY 4 to 6 weeks after the final dose of once-monthly RBP-7000. The results suggested that making the switch to UZEDY just 4 weeks after the last RBP-7000 injection yielded similar PK profiles for UZEDY at both initial exposure and steady state. 

Specifically, UZEDY doses of 100 mg (administered monthly) or 200 mg (administered every two months) were comparable to 120 mg of once-monthly RBP-7000. Clinicians should tailor the switching strategy to each patient, taking into account factors like patient preferences, scheduling convenience, and the potential for tolerability issues or symptom relapse.

Eric Hughes, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer at Teva, said “Schizophrenia patients and healthcare providers rely on evidence-based studies that can help inform their treatment decisions. That is why Teva is dedicated to building on our commitment to neuroscience and schizophrenia and helps provide these clinical insights on UZEDY switching strategies, along with its role in long-acting treatment options. 

He further added, “Up to 80% of schizophrenia patients experience multiple relapses in the first five years, making switching treatments a common experience in the search for optimal treatment. With UZEDY, Teva is building a robust portfolio of research that can help determine if and when it may be the right long-acting option.”

“Every person living with schizophrenia has unique treatment needs and preferences that may also evolve over time. For my patients, I encourage discussion around key factors like treatment adherence, dosing frequency, symptom control, and rate of relapse which inform what treatment option may be the most appropriate,” commented Christoph Correll, MD, Professor of Psychiatry at the Zucker School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY. 

He continued, “For healthcare providers, there is also a significant knowledge gap in the available clinical data on switching patients between the various LAI treatment options, which have differing pharmacokinetic properties and dosing considerations. Insights from studies like these are crucial for researchers and clinicians like myself, as they help us become more informed and better serve our patients.”