Forest Labs files NDA for cariprazine for schizophrenia and bipolar indications; patent settlements

Forest Laboratories (NYSE: FRX) has submitted a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration for cariprazine, a potent dopamine D3/D2 receptor partial agonist with preferential binding to D3 receptors, for two indications.

The application for the treatment of schizophrenia includes results from three positive trials in over 1700 patients, two fixed dose studies with active controls and one fixed-flexible placebo-controlled dose study using the change from baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score as primary efficacy endpoint.

The application for the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder includes results from three positive placebo-controlled trials in over 1000 patients, two flexible dose studies and one fixed-flexible dose study using the change from baseline in the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) total score as primary efficacy endpoint.