Aripiprazole (Page 11 of 14)

14.3 Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

Adults

The efficacy of aripiprazole in the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) was demonstrated in two short-term (6 week), placebo-controlled trials of adult patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD who had had an inadequate response to prior antidepressant therapy (1 to 3 courses) in the current episode and who had also demonstrated an inadequate response to 8 weeks of prospective antidepressant therapy (paroxetine controlled-release, venlafaxine extended-release, fluoxetine, escitalopram, or sertraline). Inadequate response for prospective treatment was defined as less than 50% improvement on the 17 item version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD17), minimal HAMD17 score of 14, and a Clinical Global Impressions Improvement rating of no better than minimal improvement. Inadequate response to prior treatment was defined as less than 50% improvement as perceived by the patient after a minimum of 6 weeks of antidepressant therapy at or above the minimal effective dose.

The primary instrument used for assessing depressive symptoms was the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), a 10 item clinician-rated scale used to assess the degree of depressive symptomatology. The key secondary instrument was the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), a 3 item self-rated instrument used to assess the impact of depression on three domains of functioning with each item scored from 0 (not at all) to 10 (extreme).

In the two trials (n=381, n=362), aripiprazole was superior to placebo in reducing mean MADRS total scores (Studies 1, 2 in Table 28). In one study, aripiprazole was also superior to placebo in reducing the mean SDS score.

In both trials, patients received aripiprazole adjunctive to antidepressants at a dose of 5 mg/day. Based on tolerability and efficacy, doses could be adjusted by 5 mg increments, one week apart. Allowable doses were: 2, 5, 10, 15 mg/day, and for patients who were not on potent CYP2D6 inhibitors fluoxetine and paroxetine, 20 mg/day. The mean final dose at the end point for the two trials was 10.7 and 11.4 mg/day.

An examination of population subgroups did not reveal evidence of differential response based on age, choice of prospective antidepressant, or race. With regard to gender, a smaller mean reduction on the MADRS total score was seen in males than in females.

Table 28: Adjunctive Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder Studies

Study Number Treatment Group Primary Efficacy Measure: MADRS
Mean Baseline Score (SD) LS Mean Change From Baseline (SE) Placebo-subtracted difference * (95%CI)
Study 1

Aripiprazole (5 to 20 mg/day)† + Antidepressant

25.2 (6.2)

-8.49(0.66) -2.84(-4.53, -1.15)

Placebo + Antidepressant

27.0 (5.5) -5.65(0.64)
Study 2

Aripiprazole (5 to 20 mg/day)† + Antidepressant

26.0 (6.0) -8.78(0.63) -3.01(-4.66, -1.37)
Placebo + Antidepressant 26.0 (6.5) -5.77(0.67)
SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; LS Mean: least-squares mean; CI: unadjusted confidence interval. * Difference (drug minus placebo) in least-squares mean change from baseline. † Doses statistically significantly superior to placebo.

14.4 Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder

Pediatric Patients

The efficacy of aripiprazole in the treatment of irritability associated with autistic disorder was established in two 8 week, placebo-controlled trials in pediatric patients (6 to 17 years of age) who met the DSM-IV criteria for autistic disorder and demonstrated behaviors such as tantrums, aggression, self-injurious behavior, or a combination of these problems. Over 75% of these patients were under 13 years of age.

Efficacy was evaluated using two assessment scales: The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale. The primary outcome measure in both trials was the change from baseline to endpoint in the Irritability subscale of the ABC (ABC-I). The ABC-I subscale measured symptoms of irritability in autistic disorder.

The results of these trials are as follows:

In one of the 8 week, placebo-controlled trials, children and adolescents with autistic disorder (n=98), aged 6 to 17 years, received daily doses of placebo or aripiprazole 2 to 15 mg/day. Aripiprazole, starting at 2 mg/day with increases allowed up to 15 mg/day based on clinical response, significantly improved scores on the ABC-I subscale and on the CGI-I scale compared with placebo. The mean daily dose of aripiprazole at the end of 8-week treatment was 8.6 mg/day (Study 1 in Table 29).

In the other 8 week, placebo-controlled trial in children and adolescents with autistic disorder (n=218), aged 6 to 17 years, three fixed doses of aripiprazole (5 mg/day, 10 mg/day, or 15 mg/day) were compared to placebo. Aripiprazole dosing started at 2 mg/day and was increased to 5 mg/day after one week. After a second week, it was increased to 10 mg/day for patients in the 10 and 15 mg dose arms, and after a third week, it was increased to 15 mg/day in the 15 mg/day treatment arm (Study 2 in Table 29). All three doses of aripiprazole significantly improved scores on the ABC-I subscale compared with placebo.

Table 29: Irritability Associated with Autistic Disorder Studies (Pediatric)

Study Number

Treatment Group

Primary Efficacy Measure: ABC-I

Mean Baseline Score (SD)

LS Mean Change from Baseline (SE)

Placebo-subtracted Difference a (95%CI)

Study 1

Aripiprazole (2 to 15

mg/day)†

29.6 (6.37)

-12.9 (1.44)

-7.9 (-11.7, -4.1)

Placebo

30.2 (6.52)

-5.0 (1.43)

Study 2

Aripiprazole (5 mg/day)†

28.6 (7.56)

-12.4 (1.36)

-4.0 (-7.7, -0.4)

Aripiprazole (10 mg/day)†

28.2 (7.36)

-13.2 (1.25)

-4.8 (-8.4,-1.3)

Aripiprazole (15 mg/day)†

28.9 (6.41)

-14.4 (1.31)

-6.0 (-9.6,-2.3)

Placebo

28.0 (6.89)

-8.4 (1.39)

SD: standard deviation; SE: standard error; LS Mean: least-squares mean; CI: unadjusted confidence interval.

*Difference (drug minus placebo) in least-squares mean change from baseline.

†Doses statistically significantly superior to placebo.

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