Lumateperone (lumateperone tosylate, ITI-007) is an investigational drug for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar depression, and other disorders. Lumateperone has a unique mechanism of action that simultaneously modulates serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate neurotransmission. This may provide advantages in the treatment of the broad symptoms associated with schizophrenia, including negative and depression symptoms. In 2 previous placebo-controlled trials in patients with acute schizophrenia, lumateperone 42mg (ITI-007 60mg) demonstrated statistically significant improvement in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total score compared with placebo. In these studies, lumateperone was well tolerated with a safety profile similar to placebo. This open-label long-term study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of lumateperone 42mg in patients with schizophrenia and stable symptoms.

Patients with stable schizophrenia were treated for up to 1 year with lumateperone 42mg. Safety assessments included adverse events (AEs), body weight, laboratory parameters, and extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS)/motor symptom assessments. Efficacy analyses included evaluation of changes in PANSS Total score and in depression symptoms, as measured by the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS).

In the 1-year open-label study, 602 patients received at least 1 dose of lumateperone 42mg; at the time of this interim analysis, 107 patients had completed 1 year of treatment. Only 4 TEAEs occurred in ≥5% of patients (weight decrease, dry mouth, headache and diarrhea); the majority of AEs were mild or moderate in intensity. Most metabolic parameters and mean prolactin levels decreased from SOC baseline, as did mean body weight and BMI. Based on AE reporting and EPS/motor symptom scales, lumateperone treatment was associated with minimal EPS risk. Lumateperone 42mg treatment was associated with significant reductions in PANSS Total score from baseline, with continuing PANSS improvement throughout the study. In patients with moderate-to-severe depression symptoms at baseline (CDSS>5), mean CDSS scores decreased from 7.4 (baseline) to 3.1 (Day 300); 60% of patients met CDSS response criteria (50% improvement from baseline) by Day 75 and this response rate was maintained through day 300. Similar magnitude of CDSS improvement was seen regardless of concurrent antidepressant therapy.

In long-term treatment, lumateperone was associated with minimal metabolic, EPS, and cardiovascular safety issues relative to current SOC antipsychotic therapy. Lumateperone improved schizophrenia symptoms with continued long-term treatment. In patients with moderate-to-severe depression symptoms at baseline, lumateperone treatment was associated with marked improvement in CDSS scores. These data are consistent with and extend data previously reported in placebo-controlled studies in patients with acute schizophrenia treated with lumateperone.

Supported by funding from Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.

Lumateperone (ITI-007) is in late-phase clinical development for schizophrenia. Lumateperone has a unique mechanism of action that modulates serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate neurotransmission. This pooled analysis of lumateperone in 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies was conducted to evaluate the safety and tolerability of lumateperone 42mg (ITI-007 60mg).

Data were pooled from the 3 controlled late-phase studies of lumateperone 42mg in patients with acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. Safety assessments of all patients who received at least one dose of any treatment included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), changes in laboratory parameters, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), and vital signs.

The safety population comprised 1,073 patients (placebo [n=412], lumateperone 42mg [n=406], risperidone [n=255]). TEAEs that occurred in the lumateperone 42mg group at a rate of ≥5% and twice placebo were somnolence/sedation (24.1% vs 10.0%) and dry mouth (5.9% vs 2.2%). Rates of discontinuation due to TEAEs with lumateperone 42mg (0.5%) were similar to placebo (0.5%) and lower than risperidone (4.7%). Mean change in weight and rates of EPS-related TEAEs were less for lumateperone 42mg and placebo patients than risperidone patients. Mean change from baseline in metabolic parameters were similar or smaller for lumateperone 42mg vs placebo. Mean changes were notably higher in risperidone patients vs lumateperone 42mg and placebo for glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and prolactin.

In this pooled analysis, lumateperone 42mg showed good tolerability with potential benefits over risperidone for metabolic, prolactin, and EPS risks. The only TEAE that occurred in >10% of lumateperone patients was somnolence/sedation, which was impacted by morning administration; in subsequent studies that administered lumateperone in the evening, somnolence/sedation rates were markedly reduced. These results suggest that lumateperone 42mg may be a promising new treatment for schizophrenia.

Supported by funding from Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.

Lumateperone is a first-in-class agent in development for schizophrenia that acts synergistically through serotonergic, dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems. Lumateperone is a potent 5-HT2A antagonist, a mesolimbic/mesocortical dopamine phosphoprotein modulator (DPPM) with pre-synaptic partial agonist and post-synaptic antagonist activity at D2, a glutamate GluN2B receptor phosphoprotein modulator with D1-dependent enhancement of both NMDA and AMPA currents via the mTOR protein pathway and an inhibitor of serotonin reuptake.

Lumateperone was evaluated in 3 controlled clinical trials to evaluate efficacy in patients with acute schizophrenia. The primary endpoint was change from baseline on the PANSS total score compared to placebo. In Study ‘005, 335 patients were randomized to receive ITI-007 60mg or 120mg , risperidone 4mg (active control) or placebo QAM for 4weeks. In Study ‘301, 450 patients were randomized to receive ITI-007 60mg or 40mg , or placebo QAM for 4weeks. In Study ‘302, 696 patients were randomized to receive ITI-007 60mg or 20mg , risperidone 4mg (active control) or placebo QAM for 6weeks. Also, an open-label safety switching study was conducted in which 302 patients with stable schizophrenia were switched from standard-of-care (SOC) antipsychotics and treated for 6weeks with lumateperone QPM and then switched back to SOC.

In Studies ‘005 and ‘301, lumateperone (60mg ITI-007) met the primary endpoint with statistically significant superior efficacy over placebo at Day 28. In Study ‘302, neither dose of lumateperone separated from placebo on the primary endpoint; a high placebo response was observed in this study. Across all 3 efficacy trials, lumateperone improved symptoms of schizophrenia with the same trajectory and same magnitude of improvement from baseline to endpoint on the PANSS total score.

Lumateperone was well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile in all studies. In the two studies with risperidone included as an active control, lumateperone was statistically significantly better than risperidone on key safety and tolerability measures. In the open-label safety switching study statistically significant improvements from SOC were observed in body weight, cardiometabolic and endocrine parameters worsened again when switched back to SOC medication. In this study, symptoms of schizophrenia generally remained stable or improved. Greater improvements were observed in subgroups of patients with elevated symptomatology (comorbid symptoms of depression and those with prominent negative symptoms).

Lumateperone represents a novel approach to the treatment of schizophrenia with a favorable safety profile in clinical trials. The lack of cardiometabolic and motor safety issues presents a safety profile differentiated from standard-of-care antipsychotic therapy.

Funding Acknowledgements: Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.