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A second Phase 3 clinical trial is projected to begin in Q3 2008. The design of the second study will be similar to the first trial, except that the patient population will be patients with bipolar disease.
About Acute Agitation
Acute agitation, characterized by unpleasant arousal, tension, irritability and hostility, is one of the most common and severe symptoms of many major psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), schizophrenia afflicts about 2.4 million people in the United States and bipolar disease affects about 5.7 million American adults. We believe over 90% of these patients will experience agitation during their lifetime and that about 70% of those who experience agitation will have one to six episodes per year.
Agitated patients are often treated in an emergency room setting, and
are also treated as in-patients in psychiatric hospitals or psychiatric
units in standard hospitals. We believe physicians currently treat acute
agitation with intramuscular (IM) injections, rapid-dissolve tablets or
standard tablets. IM injections are invasive, can be disconcerting to
patients as they often require the use of restraints, and can be dangerous
to the medical personnel while they attempt to inject the patient. IM
injections can also take up to 60 minutes to work. Oral tablets provide
convenience of dosing alternatives and have a slower onset of action.
Market research among physicians has identified speed of onset as an
important factor that affects
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| SOURCE Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Copyright©2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |