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BackgroundLumateperone (ITI-007) is a first-in-class investigational agent in development for the treatment of schizophrenia. Acting synergistically through serotonergic, dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems, lumateperone represents a new approach to the treatment of schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Lumateperone is a potent antagonist at 5-HT2A receptors and exhibits serotonin reuptake inhibition. Lumateperone also binds to dopamine D1 and D2 receptors acting as a mesolimbic/mesocortical dopamine phosphoprotein modulator (DPPM) with pre-synaptic partial agonism and post-synaptic antagonism at D2 receptors and as an indirect glutamatergic (GluN2B) phosphoprotein modulator with D1-dependent enhancement of both NMDA and AMPA currents via the mTOR protein pathway.MethodsLumateperone was evaluated in 3 controlled clinical trials to evaluate efficacy in patients with acute schizophrenia. In Study ITI-007-005, 335 patients were randomized equally across 4 treatment arms: one of two doses of lumateperone, risperidone (active control) or placebo QAM for 4 weeks. In Study ITI-007-301, 450 patients were randomized equally across 3 treatment arms: one of two doses of lumateperone or placebo QAM for 4 weeks. In Study ITI-007-302, 696 patients were randomized equally across 4 treatment arms: one of two doses of lumateperone, risperidone (active control) or placebo QAM for 6 weeks. In all 3 studies, the primary endpoint was change from baseline on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score compared to placebo. Also, a 6-week open-label safety switching study was conducted. In this ITI-007-303 study 302 patients with stable schizophrenia were switched from standard-of-care (SOC) antipsychotics and treated for 6 weeks with lumateperone QPM outpatient and then switched back to SOC for 2 weeks.ResultsTwo of the 3 randomized studies were positive. In Studies ITI-007-005 and ITI-007-301, lumateperone (60 mg ITI-007, equivalent to 42 mg active base) met the primary endpoint with statistically significant superior efficacy over placebo at Day 28 as measured by the PANSS total score (Study ITI-007-005 p=0.017; Study ITI-007-301 p=0.022). In Study ITI-007-302, neither dose of lumateperone separated from placebo on the primary endpoint in the intent-to-treat population; a high placebo response was observed in this study. Across all 3 efficacy trials, lumateperone improved symptoms of schizophrenia with the same trajectory and same magnitude of improvement from baseline on the PANSS total score.Lumateperone was well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile in all studies. In the two studies with risperidone included as an active control, lumateperone was statistically significantly better than risperidone on key safety and tolerability measures including prolactin, glucose, lipids and weight. In the open-label safety switching study statistically significant improvements from SOC were observed in body weight, cardiometabolic and endocrine parameters worsened again when switched back to SOC me...

BackgroundLumateperone is a first-in-class agent in development for schizophrenia that acts synergistically through serotonergic, dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems. Lumateperone is a potent 5-HT2A antagonist, a mesolimbic/mesocortical dopamine phosphoprotein modulator (DPPM) with pre-synaptic partial agonist and post-synaptic antagonist activity at D2, a glutamate GluN2B receptor phosphoprotein modulator with D1-dependent enhancement of both NMDA and AMPA currents via the mTOR protein pathway and an inhibitor of serotonin reuptake.MethodsLumateperone was evaluated in 3 controlled clinical trials to evaluate efficacy in patients with acute schizophrenia. The primary endpoint was change from baseline on the PANSS total score compared to placebo. In Study ‘005, 335 patients were randomized to receive ITI-007 60mg or 120mg , risperidone 4mg (active control) or placebo QAM for 4weeks. In Study ‘301, 450 patients were randomized to receive ITI-007 60mg or 40mg , or placebo QAM for 4weeks. In Study ‘302, 696 patients were randomized to receive ITI-007 60mg or 20mg , risperidone 4mg (active control) or placebo QAM for 6weeks. Also, an open-label safety switching study was conducted in which 302 patients with stable schizophrenia were switched from standard-of-care (SOC) antipsychotics and treated for 6weeks with lumateperone QPM and then switched back to SOC.ResultsIn Studies ‘005 and ‘301, lumateperone (60mg ITI-007) met the primary endpoint with statistically significant superior efficacy over placebo at Day 28. In Study ‘302, neither dose of lumateperone separated from placebo on the primary endpoint; a high placebo response was observed in this study. Across all 3 efficacy trials, lumateperone improved symptoms of schizophrenia with the same trajectory and same magnitude of improvement from baseline to endpoint on the PANSS total score.Lumateperone was well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile in all studies. In the two studies with risperidone included as an active control, lumateperone was statistically significantly better than risperidone on key safety and tolerability measures. In the open-label safety switching study statistically significant improvements from SOC were observed in body weight, cardiometabolic and endocrine parameters worsened again when switched back to SOC medication. In this study, symptoms of schizophrenia generally remained stable or improved. Greater improvements were observed in subgroups of patients with elevated symptomatology (comorbid symptoms of depression and those with prominent negative symptoms).DiscussionLumateperone represents a novel approach to the treatment of schizophrenia with a favorable safety profile in clinical trials. The lack of cardiometabolic and motor safety issues presents a safety profile differentiated from standard-of-care antipsychotic therapy.Funding Acknowledgements: Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.

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Study ObjectiveApproved treatments for bipolar depression are limited and associated with a spectrum of undesirable side effects. Lumateperone (lumateperone tosylate, ITI−007), a mechanistically novel antipsychotic that simultaneously modulates serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate neurotransmission, is FDA-approved for the treatment of schizophrenia. Lumateperone is currently being investigated for the treatment of bipolar depression (major depressive episodes [MDE] associated with bipolar I and bipolar II disorder). This Phase 3 randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled multinational study (NCT03249376) investigated the efficacy and safety of lumateperone in patients with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder experiencing a MDE.MethodPatients (18 75 years) with a clinical diagnosis of bipolar I or bipolar II disorder who were experiencing a MDE (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale [MADRS] Total score =20 and a Clinical Global Impression Scale-Bipolar Version-Severity [CGI-BP-S] score =4 at screening and baseline) were randomized to lumateperone 42mg or placebo for 6 weeks. The primary and key secondary efficacy endpoints were change from baseline to Day 43 in MADRS total score and CGI-BP-S scores, respectively. Secondary efficacy outcomes included response (MADRS improvement = 50%) and remission (MADRS total score =12) at Day 43. Safety assessments included treatment emergent adverse events, laboratory parameters, vital signs, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), and suicidality.ResultsIn this study, 377 patients received treatment (placebo, n=189; lumateperone 42mg, n=188) and 333 completed treatment. Patients in the lumateperone 42-mg group had significantly greater mean improvement on MADRS total score change from baseline to Day 43 compared with placebo (least squares mean difference [LSMD]=-4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-6.34, −2.83; effect size vs placebo [ES]=-0.56; P<.0001). Lumateperone treatment was associated with significant MADRS improvement in both patients with bipolar I (LSMD=-4.0; 95% CI=-5.92, −1.99; ES=-0.49; P<.0001) and bipolar II (LSMD=-7.0; 95% CI=-10.92, −3.16; ES=-0.81; P=.0004). The lumateperone 42-mg group also had significantly greater mean improvement in CGI-BP-S total score compared with placebo (LSMD=-0.9; 95% CI=-1.37, −0.51; ES=-0.46; P<.001). Lumateperone compared with placebo had significantly greater MADRS response rate (51.1% vs 36.7%; odds ratio=2.98; P<.001) and remission rates (P=.02) at Day 43. Lumateperone treatment was well tolerated, with minimal risk of EPS, metabolic, and prolactin side effects.ConclusionsLumateperone 42 mg significantly improved depression symptoms in both patients with bipolar I and bipolar II depression. Lumateperone was generally well tolerated. These results suggest that lumateperone 42 mg may be a promising new treatment for bipolar depression associated with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder.FundingIntra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.