Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. announced positive topline results from Study 501 evaluating lumateperone 42 mg as an adjunctive therapy to antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Topline results from second Phase 3 study, Study 502, are anticipated late in the second quarter of this year. Lumateperone 42 mg given once daily as adjunctive therapy to antidepressants met the primary endpoint in Study 501 by demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the MADRS total score compared to placebo at Week 6. In the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) study population, the least squares (LS) mean reduction from baseline for lumateperone 42 mg was 14.7 points, versus 9.8 points for placebo (LS mean difference = -4.9 points; p<0.0001; ES= 0.61).

Lumateperone 42 mg also met the key secondary endpoint in the study by demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the CGI-S score compared to placebo at Week 6 (p<0.0001; ES= 0.67). Statistically significant efficacy was seen at the earliest time point tested (Week 1) and maintained throughout the study in both the primary and the key secondary endpoints. In this study, lumateperone 42 mg robustly improved depressive symptoms as reported by patients as measured by the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self Report (QIDS-SR-16) (p<0.0001).

The QIDS-SR-16 is a 16-item patient-rated scale of symptom severity in depression. It assesses nine key symptoms of depression: insomnia/hypersomnia, low mood, appetite/weight changes, impaired self-perception, concentration difficulties, loss of interest/pleasure, suicidal ideation, psychomotor agitation and fatigue. In this study, 485 patients were randomized (1:1) to lumateperone 42 mg plus antidepressant or placebo plus antidepressant to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lumateperone as an adjunctive treatment to antidepressants in patients with MDD.

The baseline MADRS total score was 30.4 for lumateperone 42 mg and 30.0 for placebo. Lumateperone was generally safe and well-tolerated in this study. The most commonly reported adverse events that were observed at a rate greater than or equal to 5% and at least twice the rate of placebo in the total population were dry mouth (10.8%), fatigue (9.5%) and tremor (5.0%).

Adverse events were mostly mild to moderate and resolved within a short period of time. These adverse events were similar to those seen in prior studies of lumateperone as a treatment for bipolar depression and schizophrenia.