Alexza's AZ-004 (Staccato(R) Loxapine) Phase 3 Trial Meets Primary Endpoint of Treating Acute Agitation in Schizophreni...(w therapiesthat provide rapid onset of p...),Health

Phase 3 Clinical Trial Design

The AZ-004 clinical trial enrolled 344 schizophrenic patients with acute agitation at 24 U.S. clinical centers. The trial was designed as an in-clinic, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study and tested AZ-004 at two dose levels, 5 mg and 10 mg. Patients were eligible to receive up to 3 doses of study drug in a 24-hour period, depending on their clinical status. Only one dose of study drug was allowed during the first 2 hours of the study period.

The primary endpoint for the study was the change from baseline in the PANSS (Positive and Negative Symptom Scale) Excited Component score (also known as PEC score), measured at 2 hours after the first dose. The key secondary endpoint was the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) score, measured at 2 hours after the first dose. All results were considered statistically significant at the p < 0.05 level, as compared to placebo, and all analyses were made on an intent-to-treat basis. Various additional assessments of a patient's agitation state were conducted at serial time points using the PEC scale over the first 4-hour post-dose time period, with follow-up assessments at the end of the 24-hour study period. Side effects were recorded for each patient throughout their 24-hour study period.

Primary Efficacy Endpoint

Both the 5 mg and the 10 mg dose of AZ-004 met the primary endpoint of the clinical trial, showing a statistically significant improvement in the 2-hour post-dose PEC score, compared to placebo.

PEC Scores (Mean Values)

p-Value for Change

from Baseline

Study Arm Baseline 2-Hour Post-Dose vs. Placebo

10 mg AZ-004<
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