Alkermes wins green light in the US for schizophrenia treatment

Dublin, Ireland-incorporated Alkermes (Nasdaq: ALKS) has been granted marketing approval by the US regulator for Aristada Initio (aripiprazole lauroxil) for the initiation of Aristada (aripiprazole lauroxil), a long-acting injectable antipsychotic approved to treat schizophrenia.

The firm says that the product “provides an alternative regimen to start patients onto any dose of Aristada on day one,” in combination with a single 30mg dose of oral aripiprazole.

Previously, the standard initiation regimen for Aristada included 21 consecutive days of oral aripiprazole starting with the first Aristada dose. The new regimen provides patients with relevant levels of aripiprazole within four days of initiation.