Metabolic and body mass parameters after treatment with JNJ-37822681, a novel fast-dissociating D2 receptor antagonist, vs olanzapine in patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: The highly selective and fast dissociating D2 receptor antagonist JNJ-37822681 may be associated with lower risk for weight gain and undesirable metabolic effects compared with available antipsychotics.

METHODS: In this double-blind, randomized study, patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1:1) to 12 weeks of JNJ-37822681 (10 mg, 20 mg, or 30 mg, twice daily) or olanzapine (10 mg/d during week 1; 15 mg/d after week 1), or 6 weeks of placebo (followed by 6 weeks of olanzapine, 15 mg/d). Metabolic and body mass parameters were assessed at weeks 6 and 12.

RESULTS: For metabolic parameters, at week 6 none of the JNJ-37822681 groups demonstrated significant change vs placebo; however, significant changes (P < .05) were observed in the olanzapine vs placebo group in triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-LDL cholesterol, and free fatty acids. For all JNJ-37822681 groups, mean weight changes at week 12 (-0.3 [10 mg], + 0.3 [20 mg], + 0.8 kg [30 mg]) were significantly less (P < .001) than for the olanzapine group (+ 2.7 kg). A higher percentage of overweight or obese patients (baseline body mass index: ≥25 kg/m2) receiving olanzapine had ≥7% increase in weight than those receiving JNJ-37822681 (9.8% vs 2.3%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: JNJ-37822681 treatment was associated with a more favorable outcome on weight and metabolic adverse effects vs olanzapine for treating schizophrenia; the 10 mg twice-daily dose demonstrated minimal to no weight gain.