Dive Brief:
- The FDA has approved Janssen's label expansion for once-monthly treatment with once-monthly, long-acting Invega Sustenna (paliperidone) for treatment of schizoaffective disorder as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy.
- The approval is based on a 15-month study showing significant improvement in relapse rate due to depression or psychotic symptoms.
- The most common side affects are injection site irritation (Invega Sustenna is an injectable), somnolence and dizziness.
Dive Insight:
So what is the difference between schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder? Schizoaffective disorder is an even more complex diagnosis than schizophrenia, incorporating symptoms of schizophrenia (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior, etc.) with simultaneous symptoms of bipolar mania disorder---either mania or depression.
Based on long-term data from a controlled study, using once-monthly Invega Sustenna decreased relapse rates significantly in affected patients. Another important breakthrough in the treatment of a hard-to-treat mental illness.