Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Pharmaceuticals
January 30, 2023

Otsuka Applies for the Additional Indication of Adjunctive Treatment
of Major Depressive Disorder for Rexulti® (brexpiprazole) in Japan

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) announces that it has filed an application in Japan for an additional indication for Rexulti® (generic name: brexpiprazole) for the treatment of depression/depressive state (Administration should be limited to patients who showed an inadequate response to existing antidepressant therapy).

The phase 3 clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole as adjunctive therapy in 740 adult patients aged 20 to 64 in Japan, with MDD. Brexpiprazole was administered once daily for six weeks, in 1 mg or 2 mg doses, as an adjunctive therapy to SSRI or SNRI antidepressants, for patients who previously had inadequate responses to antidepressant monotherapy.

In the study, improvements from baseline on the primary endpoint of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale for patients receiving 1mg and 2mg of brexpiprazole for six weeks as adjunctive therapy were statistically greater than for those receiving adjunctive placebo. Brexpiprazole was generally well tolerated by trial participants, and no new safety concerns were identified.

Brexpiprazole is expected to become a new treatment option for patients whose depressive symptoms are not adequately relieved by existing antidepressants. Otsuka will continue to deliver innovative products to meet unmet medical needs around the world.