Olivier Le Moal
The U.S. FDA has approved Uzedy, a long-acting and subcutaneously delivered formulation of antipsychotic risperidone, developed by Teva Pharmaceutical (NYSE:TEVA) and French pharma MedinCell (OTC:MDCLF) as a treatment for adults with the mental disorder schizophrenia.
Based on MedinCell’s copolymer technology, Uzedy is designed to provide a steady release of risperidone, offering convenience to patients with 1- and 2-month dosing intervals.
About 80% of patients with schizophrenia suffer from multiple relapses during the first five years of therapy due to poor adherence to oral antipsychotics.
“Lack of adherence to treatment with oral antipsychotics is the most common cause of relapse in schizophrenia, so there’s a role for therapies that are dosed in one- or two-month dosing intervals to help prevent relapse,” noted Christoph Correll, professor of psychiatry at the Zucker School of Medicine, Hempstead, NY.
The companies plan to launch Uzedy in the U.S. over the coming weeks at a Wholesale Acquisition Cost ranging from $1,232 to $3,080 per month, depending on the dose level.
