First Long-Acting Antipsychotic Approved for Schizoaffective Disorder

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the supplemental New Drug Applications for the long-acting, injectable antispychotic Invega Sustenna (paliperidone palmitate) as either monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of schizoaffective disorder. As an adjunctive therapy, it can be paired with mood stabilizers and antidepressants.

Invega Sustenna is the first once-monthly treatment for schizoaffective disorder to be approved as monotherapy.

The new approval is supported by data from a 15-month long-term maintenance study that studied the ability to delay relapse in schizoaffective disorder. Study results showed that patients treated with Invega Sustenna experienced a statistically significant delay in relapse due to mood (depression and mania) and psychotic symptoms of schizoaffective disorder vs. placebo.

Paliperidone palmitate, which is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, was already approved for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia. 

This article originally appeared on MPR