According to AstraZeneca, the new version of its Seroquel treatment is designed to make the administration of the schizophrenia drug easier to manage. The previous Seroquel treatment had to be taken twice a day.
The manufacturer said that the FDA approval was based on placebo-controlled clinical trial data showing the effectiveness of Seroquel in doses of 400mg, 600mg, and 800mg a day. After six weeks of treatment, the reported signs of schizophrenia in patients treated with these doses significantly improved.
Schizophrenia is a serious brain disorder with symptoms including distorted perceptions of reality, hallucinations and delusions. The disorder affects about 1% of the US population aged 18 and older, the company said.
“The once-daily dosing of Seroquel may help patients by providing simpler and more convenient treatment plans, which can be an important component of overall disease management,” said Lisa Schoenberg, vice president of specialty care at AstraZeneca.