Forest Laboratories reveals top-line results from cariprazine Phase II clinical trial for bipolar depression

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) and Gedeon Richter Plc. today announced preliminary top-line results from an 8-week Phase II clinical trial of the novel, investigational antipsychotic agent cariprazine for the treatment of bipolar depression. Cariprazine is currently undergoing Phase III trials for separate indications of schizophrenia and bipolar mania.

A total of 233 patients were randomized to enter one of two active (low dose or high dose) treatment arms or placebo. The primary endpoint was the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score. The study was designed to be exploratory. Although the overall difference observed between the drug-treated and placebo-treated groups was not statistically significant, over the course of the trial there was evidence of a clinically relevant treatment effect in the high-dose arm of the study by comparison to placebo. In addition, the tolerability results for cariprazine support further investigation in this patient population. Approximately 9% of patients discontinued the study early due to adverse events in the high dose study arm compared to 3% in the placebo arm. The companies are considering conducting an additional Phase II dose-response trial examining a wider range of doses.