LB-102 FOR ACUTE SCHIZOPHRENIA IN ADULTS: RESULTS FROM THE PHASE 2 NOVA1 CLINICAL TRIAL, FOCUSED ON PANSS TOTAL SCORE RESPONDER AND CGI-S REMITTER RATES
Background
LB-102 (N-methylated amisulpride) is a novel benzamide antipsychotic currently under development for the treatment of patients with acute schizophrenia as well as other neuropsychiatric diseases. Primary analysis of the large-scale, phase 2 NOVA1 study in adults with acute schizophrenia (NCT06179108) highlighted that LB-102 had a clinically significant treatment effect on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score and Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S) score after 4 weeks of treatment. This analysis explores response rates to LB-102 on the PANSS total score and CGI-S at the end of Week 4.
Methods
NOVA1 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in eligible adults (18–55 yr) diagnosed with schizophrenia. Participants were randomized (3:3:3:1) to oral once-daily placebo (PBO), LB-102 50mg, LB-102 75mg, or LB-102 100mg (exploratory). The primary analysis was change from baseline to Week 4 in PANSS total score, with effect sizes and responder/remitter rates calculated based on observed cases. Post hoc analyses were conducted to determine PANSS total score response rates of ≥20%, ≥30%, and ≥40% at Week 4, with PANSS item scores rescaled (0–6; total score range: 0–180) to adjust for the mathematical floor effect. CGI-S remission was defined, a priori, as a participant with a CGIS rating of 3 (mildly ill), 2 (borderline mentally ill), or 1 (normal, not at all ill) at Week 4.
Results
359 participants were randomized (PBO, n=108; 50mg, n=107; 75mg, n=108; 100mg, n=36), with 261 (73%) completing the 6-week trial. LB-102 met the primary endpoint, with mean changes from baseline to Week 4 in PANSS total score being -9.3 (PBO, n=93), -14.3 (50mg, p=0.0009 vs PBO; effect size=0.61, n=91), -14.0 (75mg, p=0.0022; effect size=0.41, n=84), and -16.1 (100mg, nominal p=0.0017; effect size=0.83, n=23). Post hoc (floor-adjusted) analysis of PANSS total scores demonstrated a higher proportion of responders for all LB-102 doses compared to PBO for the ≥20% (50mg, 57.1%, p=0.03; 75mg, 53.6%, p=0.02; 100mg, 78.3%, p=0.001 vs PBO, 38.7%) and ≥30% (50mg, 31.9%, p=0.03; 75mg, 31.0%, p=0.01; 100mg, 39.1%, p=0.02 vs PBO, 16.1%) PANSS total score responders, as well as ≥40% PANSS total score responders for LB-102 50mg (20.9%, p=0.01) and 75mg (16.7%, p=0.02) compared to PBO (6.5%). All LB-102 doses demonstrated significantly greater improvements from baseline to Week 4 in CGI S score compared to PBO (50mg, least squares mean difference, -0.33 [standard error, 0.10], p < 0.001; 75mg, -0.28 [0.10], p=0.005; 100mg, -0.45 [0.15], p=0.003). LB-102 50mg (23.4%, p=0.001) and 75mg (17.6%, p=0.02) demonstrated significantly greater CGI-S remitter rates at the end of Week 4 compared to placebo (7.4%). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 56% (PBO), 69% (50mg), 57% (75mg), and 75% (100mg) of participants. Ten participants reported TEAEs leading to withdrawal (PBO, n=2; 50mg, n=2; 75mg, n=3; 100mg, n=3) and 5 reported serious TEAEs (PBO, n=2 [including 1 death]; each LB-102 arm, n=1).
Discussion
This phase 2 clinical trial provided robust evidence demonstrating the efficacy and safety of LB-102 for adults with acute schizophrenia, with greater PANSS total score responder and CGI-S remitter rates at the end of Week 4 compared to placebo.