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news.Patients with schizophrenia found Pfizer's antipsychotic Geodon to be more tolerable than - and just as effective as - Janssen Pharmaceutica's Risperdal, according to a recently published head-to-head study.
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Results from the eight-week study showed that Geodon (ziprasidone) and Risperdal (risperidone), advertised as the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic in the US, were equally effective in improving psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
However, Geodon showed a lower movement disorder burden, which can include stiffness, rigidity, tremors and restlessness; reduced effects on weight; and a more favorable impact on prolactin levels, which can be associated with sexual dysfunction and menstrual irregularity. In fact, Risperdal-treated patients had prolactin levels that were three times greater, on average, than those patients treated with Geodon.
“This study shows that Geodon demonstrates efficacy on par with what is considered a well established treatment for efficacy and well-tolerated with reduced risks for certain harmful side effects that commonly affect patients with schizophrenia,” said Dr Peter Buckley, professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at the Medical College of Georgia.
In the trial, 296 hospitalized patients diagnosed with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized to receive either Risperdal or Geodon.
During the course of the trial, twice as many patients treated with Risperdal experienced clinically significant weight gain, at least 7% or more of baseline weight, compared to those treated with Geodon.
Patients treated with Geodon were also less likely to demonstrate akathisia (restlessness) and experienced a lower movement disorder burden (MDB). The MDB score was 0.35 at end point for the Risperdal group compared to 0.20 for the Geodon group with the higher score indicating greater adverse effect burden.
Other adverse events were mild or moderate in nature. The percentage of patients experiencing at least one treatment-related adverse event was comparable for both groups.
In August 2004, Geodon prescriptions were reported to be growing faster than those of any other drug in the market, with an independent forecast estimating 2007 sales to reach $700 million.