B-MS reveals Ph III aripiprazole data

Bristol-Myers Squibb's new antipsychotic, aripiprazole, has been shownto be comparable to the conventional drug haloperidol in controlling the symptoms of schizophrenia, but was better tolerated, according to the first Phase III data.

Aripiprazole was discovered by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals of Japan and has been proposed as a best-in-class molecule. It is believed to have a unique mechanism of action and pharmacological profile, offering efficacy with an excellent tolerability profile. Studies have suggested that aripiprazole acts as an agonist at presynaptic dopamine D2 receptors and an antagonist at postsynaptic D2 receptors but, unlike older agents such as haloperidol, does not upregulate these receptors, a process thought to contribute to extrapyramidal side effects.

"Significant" commercialization agreement, says B-MS