Neurogens aplindore effective in Phase II restless legs syndromw

Neurogen have announced Phase II clinical trial results with dopamine partial agonist aplindore in restless legs syndrome (RLS) and Parkinson’s disease. Aplindore demonstrated highly significant efficacy and was well tolerated.

Forest/Gedeon Richters Cariprazine effective in Acute Mania Associated with Bipolar I Disorder

Forest Laboratories  and Gedeon Richter have announced results from a phase II clinical trial of cariprazine (RGH-188) in patients with acute mania associated with bipolar I disorder. The data showed that patients with acute manic episodes treated with cariprazine experienced significant symptom improvement compared to placebo patients.

CHMP recommends approval of olanzapine LAI for maintenance therapy in schizophrenai

The CHMP has recommended European approval of Olanzapine Long-acting Injection (Zypadhera) for maintenance treatment of patients with schizophrenia

Oxford BioMedicas gene therapy ProSavin effective in parkinsons

Oxford BioMedica  have announced promising results from the Phase I/II trial of its gene therapy, ProSavin, for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. It delivers three genes required to convert cells that normally do not produce dopamine into cells that do.

FDA Approve Dopamine Antagonist Xenazine (tetrabenazine) for the treatment of chorea in people with Huntington’s disease

US FDA has approved Xenazine (tetrabenazine) for the treatment of chorea in people with Huntington’s disease.

Alexza initiate 2nd phase III trial of AZ-004 in schizophrenia/bipolar disorder

Alexza has initiated a second Phase III trial of AZ-004 (Staccato, loxapine) for the treatment of acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Vanda receive non approvable letter for Iloperidone

Vanda Pharmaceuticals have received a not approvable letter from the US FDA for iloperidone, an atypical antipsychotic under development for schizophrenia. The FDA expressed concern about the efficacy of iloperidone in patients with schizophrenia relative to the active comparator, risperidone (Risperdal(R), Johnson & Johnson), used in prior studies.

Orexigen to initiate second Phase IIb trial of Empatic

Orexigen have announced that they are to commence a second Phase IIb clinical trial for Empatic (zonisamide and bupropion)

Titans Spheramine cell therapy does not meet endpoint

Titan Pharmaceutical’s cell based cell-based therapy for the potential treatment of moderate to advanced Parkinson’s disease has not met endpoints in a Phase IIb trial. The human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE) cell-based therapeutic is delivered by stereotaxic injection into the brain and produces dopamine specifically to sites deficient in dopamine

Dopamine lead to Impulse-control disorders

Data presented at the Movement Disorder Society meeting show that treatment with dopamine agonists leads to compulsive behavior such as gambling, binge eating, impulsive buying and erratic sexual behavior