Alkermes Showcases Neuroscience Portfolio at Fall 2024 Conferences

Alkermes plc recently showcased its research on LYBALVI® (olanzapine and samidorphan), ARISTADA® (aripiprazole lauroxil), and ALKS 2680 at two significant scientific meetings held this fall. These conferences included the 37th Annual Psych Congress in Boston and the 2024 Neuroscience Education Institute Congress in Colorado Springs. These events provided a platform for Alkermes to present extensive data on their commercial psychiatry products and an investigational medicine for narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

Craig Hopkinson, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research & Development at Alkermes, emphasized the importance of these presentations in highlighting the extensive research dedicated to understanding patient experiences and advancing treatments for schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, and narcolepsy. The presentations at these conferences demonstrated the company's commitment to engaging with the psychiatric and neuroscience communities to improve patient outcomes.

One of the key highlights was a retrospective study examining healthcare resource utilization and treatment patterns in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder following the initiation of LYBALVI. This study included patients with at least one medical or pharmacy claim for LYBALVI, totaling 1,287 patients with schizophrenia and 1,004 with bipolar I disorder. The research aimed to compare healthcare resource utilization in the 12 months before and after starting LYBALVI.

Results showed significant reductions in hospital admissions and emergency department visits among patients with schizophrenia after initiating LYBALVI. There were notable decreases in all-cause, mental health-related, and disease-related inpatient admissions by 25%, 27%, and 24%, respectively, and emergency department visits by 13%, 27%, and 22%. Similarly, patients with bipolar I disorder experienced reductions in inpatient admissions by 34%, 39%, and 42%, and emergency department visits decreased by 16%, 32%, and 29%. The study also evaluated changes in outpatient visits, inpatient days, and the length of inpatient stays.

It is important to note the study's limitations, including the use of administrative claims data, which may not represent uninsured populations and could be subject to coding errors. Additionally, the healthcare resource utilization reported might not fully capture the effects of long-term LYBALVI use, and claims for filled prescriptions do not confirm medication adherence.

In addition to the LYBALVI study, Alkermes presented multiple posters related to narcolepsy. These included safety and efficacy data from a proof-of-concept phase 1b study of ALKS 2680, an investigational orexin 2 receptor agonist, in patients with narcolepsy type 1 and type 2. Research also covered qualitative interviews and literature reviews aimed at understanding the clinical, economic, and humanistic burden of narcolepsy.

The list of presentations included a range of topics, such as the long-term safety and efficacy of olanzapine/samidorphan, treatment effects on negative symptoms in schizophrenia, and analyses of healthcare resource utilization following the initiation of aripiprazole lauroxil.

Alkermes' research presented at these conferences underscores the company's dedication to advancing treatments for complex psychiatric and sleep disorders. By sharing their findings, Alkermes aims to foster scientific exchange and collaborate with the medical community to improve patient care.

LYBALVI is an oral atypical antipsychotic approved in the U.S. for treating adults with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. ARISTADA is an injectable antipsychotic used for treating schizophrenia in adults, offering multiple dosing options. Both medications are integral parts of Alkermes' portfolio, reflecting the company's commitment to developing innovative treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions.