A Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Asenapine in Participants With an Acute Exacerbation of Schizophrenia (P05688)

February 7, 2022 updated by: Organon and Co

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Fixed-Dose, 6-Week Trial of the Efficacy and Safety of Asenapine Compared With Placebo Using Olanzapine as an Active Control in Subjects With an Acute Exacerbation of Schizophrenia

The purpose of this trial is to assess the effect of asenapine 2.5 and 5 mg sublingually twice daily (BID) compared with placebo in the treatment of schizophrenia (overall symptoms) as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Olanzapine administered 15 mg orally once daily (QD) was used as an active control. The primary hypothesis is that at least one of the asenapine doses is superior to placebo in improving schizophrenia symptoms as measured by the change from Baseline in the PANSS total score at Day 42. The first key secondary hypothesis is that at least one of the asenapine doses is superior to placebo in improving schizophrenia symptoms as measured by the change from Baseline in Clinical Global Impression Scale-Severity (CGI-S) score at Day 42. The second key secondary hypothesis is that at least one of the asenapine doses is superior to placebo in improving schizophrenia symptoms as measured by the rate of PANSS responders (≥30% Reduction From Baseline in PANSS Total Score) at Day 42.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The trial consists of a screening/tapering period, treatment period, and follow-up period. The 6-week active treatment period includes an inpatient phase and outpatient phase. Participants who complete the trial may continue treatment under a long-term extension protocol (P05689). Participants who do not continue in the treatment continuation trial (whether they complete the 6-week trial or discontinue prematurely) will have a follow-up visit 7 days after their last dose of trial medication.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

360

Phase

  • Phase 3

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Current diagnosis of schizophrenia of paranoid, disorganized, or undifferentiated subtype
  • Minimum PANSS total score of 70 at Screening and Baseline
  • Score of at least 4 (moderate) in two or more of the five items in the positive subscale of the PANSS
  • Confirmed to be experiencing an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia
  • CGI-S scale score of at least 4 (moderately ill) at Baseline
  • Has responded positively to an antipsychotic medication other than clozapine (Clozaril®) in a prior episode

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Body mass index (BMI) <18.5 or >40.0 kg/m^2
  • Laboratory and/or clinical evidence of clinically significant hepatic conditions
  • Known history of, or undergoing treatment for, narrow angle glaucoma
  • Diagnosed with epilepsy or has had any seizure disorder beyond childhood febrile seizures
  • Known serological evidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody
  • History of neuroleptic malignant syndrome or tardive dyskinesias
  • Past or current diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia of residual subtype, schizophrenia of catatonic subtype, current diagnosis of schizophrenia with course specifiers continuous, single episode in partial remission, or single episode in full remission, or borderline personality disorder

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Placebo Comparator: Placebo BID
Film-coated placebo olanzapine tablets (to match 5 and 10 mg active olanzapine tablets) administered orally
Fast dissolving placebo asenapine tablets (to match 2.5 mg and 5 mg active asenapine tablets) administered sublingually
Experimental: Asenapine 2.5 mg BID
2.5 mg or 5 mg fast dissolving active asenapine tablets administered sublingually
Film-coated placebo olanzapine tablets (to match 5 and 10 mg active olanzapine tablets) administered orally
Experimental: Asenapine 5 mg BID
2.5 mg or 5 mg fast dissolving active asenapine tablets administered sublingually
Film-coated placebo olanzapine tablets (to match 5 and 10 mg active olanzapine tablets) administered orally
Active Comparator: Olanzapine 15 mg QD
Film-coated placebo olanzapine tablets (to match 5 and 10 mg active olanzapine tablets) administered orally
Fast dissolving placebo asenapine tablets (to match 2.5 mg and 5 mg active asenapine tablets) administered sublingually
5 and 10 mg film-coated active olanzapine tablets administered orally QD. The time of the active olanzapine dose (either morning or evening) is not disclosed in order to preserve blinding

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline in PANSS Total Score at Day 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Day 42
The PANSS is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument for assessing schizophrenia symptoms. It consists of 3 subscales: positive subscale (7 items), negative subscale (7 items), and general psychopathology subscale (16 items). For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. The PANSS total score for each participant was sum of the rating assigned to each of the 30 PANSS items, and ranged from 30 to 210 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. The reported measure is the change from baseline at Day 42; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Day 42

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline in CGI-S Score at Day 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Day 42
Change from baseline in CGI-S score at Day 42 is a Key Secondary Outcome Measure. CGI-S is a 7-point scale for assessing the global severity of the participant's illness, with ratings from 1=normal, not ill to 7=very severely ill. The reported measure is the change from baseline at Day 42; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Day 42
Percentage of Participants Who Are PANSS Responders (≥30% Reduction From Baseline in PANSS Total Score) at Day 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Day 42
Rate of PANSS responders at Day 42 is a Key Secondary Outcome Measure. A PANSS responder was defined as a participant who had a reduction from baseline of at least 30% in the PANSS total score at a post-baseline assessment. The PANSS is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument for assessing schizophrenia symptoms. For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. The Total score is the sum of the ratings for the individual items, and ranged from 30 to 210 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. Missing data were imputed by Last Observation Carried Forward (LOCF).
Baseline and Day 42
Change From Baseline in Body Weight at Day 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Day 42
Change from baseline in body weight at Day 42 is the Key Safety Outcome Measure.
Baseline and Day 42
Change From Baseline in PANSS Total Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35
The PANSS is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument for assessing schizophrenia symptoms. It consists of 3 subscales: positive subscale (7 items), negative subscale (7 items), and general psychopathology subscale (16 items). For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. The PANSS total score for each participant was sum of the rating assigned to each of the 30 PANSS items, and ranged from 30 to 210 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. The reported measure is the change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35
Percentage of Participants Who Are PANSS Responders (≥30% Reduction From Baseline in PANSS Total Score) at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35
Time Frame: Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35
A PANSS responder was defined as a participant who had a reduction from baseline of at least 30% in the PANSS total score at a post-baseline assessment. The PANSS is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument for assessing schizophrenia symptoms. For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. The Total score is the sum of the ratings for the individual items, and ranged from 30 to 210 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. Missing data were imputed by LOCF.
Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35
Change From Baseline in CGI-S Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35
CGI-S is a 7-point scale for assessing the global severity of the participant's illness, with ratings from 1=normal, not ill to 7=very severely ill. The reported measure is the change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35
Percentage of Participants Who Are Clinical Global Impression Scale-Improvement (CGI-I) Responders at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Time Frame: Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
A CGI-I responder was defined as a participant who had a CGI-I score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved) at a post-baseline assessment. CGI-I is a 7-point scale for assessing the global improvement of the participant's illness relative to baseline, with ratings from 1=very much improved to 7=very much worse. Missing data were imputed by LOCF.
Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Change From Baseline in PANSS Negative Subscale Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
This measure reports results for the 7 items of the negative subscale of the PANSS, which is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument used to assess schizophrenia symptoms. Negative symptoms represent a diminution or loss of normal functions (e.g., emotional withdrawal). For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. PANSS negative subscale score for each participant was sum of the rating assigned to each of the 7 subscale items, and ranged from 7 to 49 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. Measure reports change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Change From Baseline in PANSS Positive Subscale Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
This measure reports results for the 7 items of the positive subscale of the PANSS, which is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument used to assess schizophrenia symptoms. Positive symptoms refer to an excess or distortion of normal mental status (e.g., delusions). For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. PANSS positive subscale score for each participant was sum of the rating assigned to each of the 7 subscale items, and ranged from 7 to 49 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. Measure reports change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Change From Baseline in PANSS General Psychopathology Subscale Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
This measure reports results for the 16 items of the general psychopathology subscale of the PANSS, which is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument used to assess the symptoms of schizophrenia. For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. The PANSS general psychopathology subscale score for each participant was calculated as the sum of the rating assigned to each of the 16 subscale items, and ranged from 16 to 112 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. The reported measure is the change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Change From Baseline in PANSS Marder Factor Positive Symptom Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
This measure reports results for the 8 items of the Marder positive symptom factor of the PANSS, which is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument used to assess schizophrenia symptoms. Marder factors are a modified grouping of the 30 PANSS items. For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. PANSS Marder factor positive symptom score for each participant was sum of rating assigned to each of the 8 applicable Marder factor items, and ranged from 8 to 56 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. Measure reports change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Change From Baseline in PANSS Marder Factor Negative Symptom Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
This measure reports results for the 7 items of the Marder negative symptoms factor of the PANSS, which is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument used to assess schizophrenia symptoms. Marder factors are a modified grouping of the 30 PANSS items. For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. PANSS Marder factor negative symptom score for each participant was sum of the rating assigned to each of the 7 applicable Marder factor items, and ranged from 7 to 49 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. Measure reports change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Change From Baseline in PANSS Marder Factor Disorganized Thought Symptom Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
This measure reports results for the 7 items of the Marder disorganized thoughts factor of the PANSS, which is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument used to assess schizophrenia symptoms. Marder factors are a modified grouping of the 30 PANSS items. For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. PANSS Marder factor disorganized thought symptom score for each participant was sum of rating assigned to each of the 7 applicable Marder factor items, and ranged from 7 to 49 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. Measure reports change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Change From Baseline in PANSS Marder Factor Hostility/Excitement Symptom Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
This measure reports results for the 4 items of the Marder hostility/excitement factor of the PANSS, which is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument used to assess schizophrenia symptoms. Marder factors are a modified grouping of the 30 PANSS items. For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. PANSS Marder factor hostility/excitement symptom score for each participant was sum of rating assigned to each of the 4 applicable Marder factor items, and ranged from 4 to 28 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. Measure reports change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Change From Baseline in PANSS Marder Factor Anxiety/Depression Symptom Score at Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
Time Frame: Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42
This measure reports results for the 4 items of the Marder anxiety/depression factor of the PANSS, which is a 30-item clinician-rated instrument used to assess schizophrenia symptoms. Marder factors are a modified grouping of the 30 PANSS items. For each item, symptom severity was rated on a 7-point scale, from 1=absent to 7=extreme. PANSS Marder factor anxiety/depression symptom score for each participant was sum of rating assigned to each of the 4 applicable Marder factor items, and ranged from 4 to 28 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms. Measure reports change from baseline; improvement in symptoms is represented by negative values.
Baseline and Days 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Publications and helpful links

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Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

December 4, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 11, 2014

Study Completion (Actual)

September 9, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 8, 2012

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 8, 2012

First Posted (Estimate)

June 12, 2012

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 9, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 7, 2022

Last Verified

February 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

https://www.merck.com/clinical-trials/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

Study Data/Documents

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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