Adam Simmons, MPH: Reducing Weight Gain for Schizophrenia Treatments

There remains a need for new schizophrenia treatments, preferably medications that do not elicit side effects such as weight gain or hallucinations that can often lead to poor adherence rates.

Researchers are hopeful a new drug, ALKS 3831, could be the answer because the combination drug has shown promise in reducing weight gain as a side effect from olanzapine.

ALKS 3831 is an investigational, novel atypical antipsychotic earmarked for once-daily oral application for the 2 psychiatric disorders composed of samidorphan, a novel, new molecular entity, co-formulated with olanzapine, an established antipsychotic agent in a single bilayer tablet.

Recently, officials from Alkermes released data from the treatment, specifically targeting the weight gain profile in schizophrenia patients.

In an interview with HCPLive®, Adam Simmons, MPH, Director of Clinical Program Management, Alkermes, said if clinicians are able to reduce weight gain as a medication side effect they might have more success in creating treatment plans for patients.

Simmons explained how much of a focal point side effects is during research of potential schizophrenia treatments.

The once-daily treatment has been assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of Nov. 15, 2020