Adam Simmons, MPH: Promise in Potential New Frontline Schizophrenia Treatment

It has proven difficult to find new frontline treatments for schizophrenia, often due to the potential side effects of existing treatment.

For example, while effective, olanzapine can lead to substantial weight gain in patients, preventing the medication from having a broader reach.

However, a potential new treatment in ALKS 3831 could 1 day become that frontline treatment, especially for younger schizophrenia patients.

ALKS 3831 is a combination therapy of samidorphan and olanzapine and has been tested to target weight gain profiles of users in recent clinical trials.

The success of the trials has Alkermes officials, developers of the promising drug, hopeful it may eventually have an impact treating this patient population.

The once-daily treatment has been assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of Nov. 15, 2020 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In an interview with HCPLive®, Adam Simmons, MPH, Director of Clinical Program Management, Alkermes, explained the impact the treatment could have it is ultimately approved by the FDA.

Simmons also discussed how some of the telemedicine practices implemented during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could continue to be utilized in clinical research even after the pandemic is over.