Lundbeck and Otsuka present Phase III results of brexpiprazole in major depressive disorder

Japanese drug maker Otsuka (TYO: 4768) and Danish CNS specialist Lundbeck (LUND: CO) have announced Phase III study results evaluating the efficacy of investigational compound brexpiprazole as adjunctive treatment to antidepressant therapy (ADT) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

The results were presented at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) in Phoenix, Arizona. Brexpiprazole is a serotonin-dopamine activity modulator (SDAM) and is believed to possess a balanced combination of potent activities at multiple receptors in the brain including partial agonist activity at dopamine D2 and serotonin 5HT1A receptors, and antagonist activity at serotonin 5HT2A receptors and noradrenergic alpha1B/2C receptors.

Michael Thase, Professor of Psychiatry, director, Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and study investigator, said: "These results are very encouraging in that they provide evidence of efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole as an adjunctive treatment to antidepressant therapy in patients with major depressive disorder who had an inadequate response to antidepressant therapy."