Alkermes plc announced positive topline results from a phase 1 study of its new antipsychotic candidate, ALKS 3831, a combination of a proprietary drug molecule, ALKS 33, and olanzapine, a molecule that is commercially available under the name ZYPREXA(R) . ALKS 3831 is in development for the treatment of schizophrenia, a central nervous system (CNS) disease, and is designed to attenuate the antipsychotic-related metabolic side effect of weight gain. The multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled study was designed to compare the mean change from baseline in body weight in 106 healthy volunteers following three weeks of once-daily, oral administration of ALKS 3831, compared to olanzapine alone or placebo.

Data from the study showed that patients administered ALKS 3831 demonstrated significantly less weight gain compared to patients taking olanzapine. Weight gain is a common and clinically relevant side effect of atypical antipsychotic medications, and olanzapine has one of the highest incidences and greatest amounts of weight gain among the widely prescribed products in this class of drugs.