Acute SchizophreniaPhase 3VECTORNCT01396421
Study of the Effectiveness of Three Different Doses of OPC-34712 in the Treatment of Adults With Acute Schizophrenia
A Phase 3 study testing OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High Dose, Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle Dose and Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low Dose in people with Acute Schizophrenia, run by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. at 60 sites in 9 countries.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of three different doses of OPC-34712 with placebo in the treatment of acute schizophrenia in adults. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Acute Schizophrenia
- What is being tested?
- OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High Dose, Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle Dose and Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low Dose
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 636 participants
- Where
- 60 sitesin 9 countries
- Study dates
- Jul 2011to Jan 2014
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Male or female subjects between 18 and 65 years of age, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) criteria
- Subjects who have been recently hospitalized or who would benefit from hospitalization for an acute relapse of schizophrenia
- Subjects experiencing an acute exacerbation of psychotic symptoms
- Other protocol specific inclusion criteria may apply
Who cannot join
- Females who are breast-feeding and/or who have a positive pregnancy test result prior to receiving study drug
- Subjects with a current DSM-IV-TR Axis I diagnosis of:
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Major depressive disorder (MDD)
- Bipolar disorder
- Delirium, dementia, amnestic or other cognitive disorder
Show all 9Show fewer
- Borderline, paranoid, histrionic, schizotypal, schizoid or antisocial personality disorder
- Subjects presenting with a first episode of schizophrenia
- Other protocol specific exclusion criteria may apply
Trial locations and contacts
60 sites in 9 countries.
60 sites in 9 countries
United States17 sites
Study site
Austin, Texas, 78754
Study site
Bradenton, Florida, 34208
Study site
Charleston, South Carolina, 29405
Study site
Charleston, South Carolina, 29407
Study site
Dayton, Ohio, 45417
Study site
Fresh Meadows, New York, 11423
Study site
Garden Grove, California, 92845
Study site
Glendale, California, 91206
Study site
Jamaica, New York, 11432
Study site
Kirkland, Washington, 98033
Study site
Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205
Study site
Miami Springs, Florida, 33166
Study site
Oakland, California, 94612
Study site
Oceanside, California, 92056
Study site
Orlando, Florida, 32806
Study site
San Diego, California, 92102
Study site
San Diego, California, 92123
Ukraine10 sites
Study site
Chernihiv, 14000
Study site
Dnipropetrovsk, 49005
Study site
Dnipropetrovsk, 49115
Study site
Hlevakha, 08631
Study site
Kherson, Vil. Stepanivka, 73488
Study site
Kyiv, 02660
Study site
Kyiv, 04080
Study site
Lviv, 79021
Study site
Simferopol, 95006
Study site
Vinnytsia, 21005
Romania8 sites
Study site
Arad, 310022
Study site
Bucharest, 010825
Study site
Bucharest, 030442
Study site
Bucharest, 041914
Study site
Cluj-Napoca, 400012
Study site
Focşani, 620165
Study site
Piteşti, 110069
Study site
Targoviste, 130086
Japan5 sites
Study site
Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa, 251-8530
Study site
Kumamoto, 861-8002
Study site
Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 904-1201
Study site
Sakai-shi, Osaka, 590-0018
Study site
Setagaya-ku, Tokyo-To, 156-0057
Latvia5 sites
Study site
Daugavpils, LV-5417
Study site
Jelgava, LV-3008
Study site
Liepāja, LV-3401
Study site
Riga, LV-1005
Study site
Strenči, LV-4730
South Korea5 sites
Study site
Incheon, 400-711
Study site
Incheon, 405-760
Study site
Seoul, 136-705
Study site
Seoul, 137-710
Study site
Seoul, 143-711
Poland4 sites
Study site
Choroszcz, 16-070
Study site
Gdansk, 80-282
Study site
Gdansk, 80-952
Study site
Lodz, 91-229
Canada3 sites
Study site
Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4E2
Study site
Chatham, Ontario, N7L 1B7
Study site
Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5L9
Serbia3 sites
Study site
Belgrade, 11000
Study site
Kragujevac, 34000
Study site
Novi Sad, 21000
About this study
Official title: A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Three Fixed Doses of OPC-34712 in the Treatment of Adults With Acute Schizophrenia
The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of three different doses of OPC-34712 with placebo in the treatment of acute schizophrenia in adults.
Read the detailed description
Schizophrenia is a severely debilitating mental illness that affects approximately 1% of the world population. Hallucinations and delusions are the most striking characteristic positive symptoms of schizophrenia; however, more subtle negative symptoms (eg, social withdrawal and lack of emotion, energy, and motivation) may also be present. The first antipsychotics developed for the treatment of schizophrenia were effective against positive symptoms, but showed little efficacy for negative symptoms and were also associated with a high incidence of side effects. Second generation antipsychotics, represent a significant advancement in the treatment of psychotic disorders because they are effective and at the same time exhibit fewer side effects than first generation antipsychotics. Although generally safer than first generation antipsychotics, the second-generation antipsychotics are not devoid of undesirable side effects such as Hyperprolactinemia and weight gain. In addition, the safety of these drugs vary considerably.
- Conditions
- Acute Schizophrenia
- Being tested
- OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High Dose, Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle Dose, Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low Dose, Placebo
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High DoseDrug
Higher dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks
Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle DoseDrug
Middle dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks
Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low DoseDrug
Lower dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks
PlaceboDrug
Placebo, once daily, for six weeks
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High Dose | Experimental | Higher Dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks Receives: Drug: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High Dose |
| OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle Dose | Experimental | Middle Dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks Receives: Drug: Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle Dose |
| OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low Dose | Experimental | Lower Dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks Receives: Drug: Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low Dose |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Placebo, once daily, for six weeks Receives: Drug: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Score.
The PANSS consists of 3 subscales (positive subscale, negative subscale and general psychology subscale) containing a total of 30 symptom constructs and was administered using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCI)-PANSS. For each symptom construct, severity was rated on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 indicating the absence of symptoms and a score of 7 indicating extremely severe symptoms. The PANSS total score ranged from 30 (best possible outcome) to 210 (worst possible outcome).
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Secondary outcomes (15)
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Illness Scale (CGI-S) Score.
The severity of illness was rated using the CGI-S which is the key secondary endpoint. To perform this assessment, the rater or study physician answered the following question: "Considering your total clinical experience with this particular population, how mentally ill is the participant at this time?" Response choices included: 0=not assessed; 1=normal, not at all ill; 2=borderline mentally ill; 3=mildly ill; 4=moderately ill; 5=markedly ill; 6=severely ill; and 7=among the most extremely ill participant.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Score.
The PANSS consists of 3 subscales (positive subscale, negative subscale and general psychology subscale) containing a total of 30 symptom constructs and was administered using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCI)-PANSS. For each symptom construct, severity was rated on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 indicating the absence of symptoms and a score of 7 indicating extremely severe symptoms. The PANSS total score ranged from 30 (best possible outcome) to 210 (worst possible outcome).
Measured: Baseline to Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Illness Scale (CGI-S) Score.
The severity of illness was rated using the CGI-S. To perform this assessment, the rater or study physician answered the following question: "Considering your total clinical experience with this particular population, how mentally ill is the participant at this time?" Response choices included: 0=not assessed; 1=normal, not at all ill; 2=borderline mentally ill; 3=mildly ill; 4=moderately ill; 5=markedly ill; 6=severely ill; and 7=among the most extremely ill participant.
Measured: Baseline to Week 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP)
The PSP is a clinician-rated scale that measures personal and social functioning in 4 domains: socially useful activities (eg, work and study), personal and social relationships, self-care, and disturbing and aggressive behaviors. Impairment in each of these domains was rated as absent, mild, manifest, marked, severe, or very severe. These ratings were then converted to a total score based on a 100-point scale using algorithms to identify the appropriate 10-point interval, and the rater's judgment to determine the total score within the 10-point interval. Participants with a PSP total score of 71 to 100 were considered to have mild functional difficulty. Scores of 31 to 70 represented manifest disabilities of various degrees and ratings of 1 to 30 indicated minimal functioning that required intense support and/or supervision.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Positive Subscale Score
For each symptom construct of the PANSS Positive Subscale, severity was rated on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 indicating the absence of symptoms and a score of 7 indicating extremely severe symptoms. The symptom constructs were as follows: delusions, conceptual disorganization, hallucinatory behavior, excitement, grandiosity, suspiciousness/persecution, and hostility. The PANSS Positive Subscale Score for each participant was calculated as the sum of the rating assigned to each of the 7 subscale items, and ranged from 7 to 49 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Negative Subscale Score
For each symptom construct of the PANSS Negative Subscale, severity was rated on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 indicating the absence of symptoms and a score of 7 indicating extremely severe symptoms. The symptom constructs were as follows: blunted affect, emotional withdrawal, poor rapport, passive/apathetic social withdrawal, difficulty in abstract thinking, lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation, stereotyped thinking. The PANSS Negative Subscale Score for each participant was calculated as the sum of the rating assigned to each of the 7 subscale items, and ranged from 7 to 49 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Clinical Global Impression- Improvement Scale (CGI-I) Score at Week 6
The participant's overall improvement was rated using the CGI-I. The rater or study physician rated the participant's total improvement whether or not it was due entirely to drug treatment. All responses were compared with the participant's condition at screening/baseline. Response choices were: 0=not assessed, 1=very much improved, 2=much improved, 3=minimally improved, 4=no change, 5=minimally worse, 6=much worse, and 7=very much worse.
Measured: Week 6
Response Rate at Week 6
Response rate was defined as improvement in mean change of ≥30% from baseline in PANSS Total Score at Week 6 or CGI-I score of 1 (very much improved) or 2 (much improved) at Week 6.
Measured: Week 6
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Excited Component (PEC) Score
The PEC consists of 5 PANSS items (excitement [P4], hostility [P7], tension [G4], uncooperativeness [G8], and poor impulse control [G14]). Each rated on a scale of 1 (absent) to 7 (extreme). The PEC for participants was calculated as the sum of the rating assigned to each of the 5 items, and ranged from 5 to 35 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Discontinuation Rate for Lack of Efficacy at Week 6
Measured: Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Factor Score - Positive Symptoms Score
The PANSS Marder Factor score - Positive Symptoms Score consists of 8 PANSS items (delusions [P1], hallucinatory behaviour [P3], grandiosity [P5], suspiciousness [P6], stereotyped thinking [N7], somatic concern [G1], unusual thought content [G9], lack of judgment and insight [G10]. Each was rated on a scale of 1 (absent) to 7 (extreme). The PANSS Marder Factor score - Positive Symptoms Score for participants was calculated as the sum of the rating assigned to each of the 8 items, and ranged from 8 to 42 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Factor Score - Negative Symptoms Score
The PANSS Marder Factor score - Negative Symptoms Score consists of 7 PANSS items (blunted effect [N1], emotional withdrawal [N2], poor rapport [N3], passive/apathetic social withdrawal [N4], lack of spontaneity and conversation flow [N6], motor retardation [G7], active social avoidance [G16]). The PANSS Marder Factor score - Negative Symptoms Score for participants was calculated as the sum of the rating assigned to each of the 7 items, and ranged from 7 to 49 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Disorganised Thought Score
The PANSS Marder Factor score -Disorganized Thought Score consists of 7 PANSS items (conceptual disorganization [P2], difficulty in abstract thinking [N5], mannerisms and posturing [G5], disorientation [G10], poor attention [G11], disturbance of violation [G13], preoccupation [G15]). The PANSS Marder Factor score - Disorganized Thought Score for participants was calculated as the sum of the rating assigned to each of the 7 items, and ranged from 7 to 49 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Uncontrolled Hostility/Excitement Score
The PANSS Marder Factor score - Uncontrolled Hostility/Excitement Score consists of 4 PANSS items (excitement [P4], hostility [P7], uncooperativeness [G8], poor impulse control [G14]). The PANSS Marder Factor score - Uncontrolled Hostility/Excitement Score for participants was calculated as the sum of the rating assigned to each of the 4 items, and ranged from 4 to 28 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Anxiety Depression Score
The PANSS Marder Factor score - Anxiety/Depression Score consists of 4 PANSS items (anxiety [G2], guilt feelings [G3], tension [G4], depression [G6]). The PANSS Marder Factor score - Anxiety/Depression Score for participants was calculated as the sum of the rating assigned to each of the 4 items, and ranged from 4 to 28 with a higher score indicating greater severity of symptoms.
Measured: Baseline to Week 6
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jul 2011 (estimated)
- Study startJul 2011
- Primary completionJan 2014
- Study completionJan 2014
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (9)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Acute SchizophreniaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 636 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Aleksandar Skuban, M.D., Study director, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01396421
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 331-10-231
- Acronym
- VECTOR
- Status last verified
- Sep 2015
- First submitted
- 11 Jul 2011
- Last updated
- 29 Oct 2015
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
Publications
Citrome L, Farovik A, Palma AM, Yildirim M. Effects of Brexpiprazole on Functioning in Patients With Schizophrenia Who Have Hostility and Agitation Symptoms: Post Hoc Analysis of Short- and Long-Term Trials. J Clin Psychiatry. 2026 Jul 20;87(3):26m16448. doi: 10.4088/JCP.26m16448.
PubMed 42474330Correll CU, Yildirim M, Zhang Z, Palma AM, Pham T, Pflug B. Efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole in early-episode schizophrenia: post hoc analysis of Phase 3 clinical trials in adults and adolescents. Psychiatry Res. 2026 Jun;360:117091. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2026.117091. Epub 2026 Mar 12.
PubMed 41849920Ismail Z, Kapadia S, Palma AM, Yildirim M, Farovik A. Brexpiprazole for anxiety symptoms in schizophrenia: a pooled analysis of short- and long-term trials. Curr Med Res Opin. 2025 Aug;41(8):1535-1548. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2025.2552286. Epub 2025 Sep 11.
PubMed 40859756Ismail Z, Meehan SR, Farovik A, Kapadia S, Palma AM, Zhang Z, McIntyre RS. Effects of brexpiprazole on patient life engagement in schizophrenia: post hoc analysis of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale data. Curr Med Res Opin. 2025 Jan;41(1):145-153. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2024.2440059. Epub 2025 Jan 3.
PubMed 39749727Correll CU, He Y, Therrien F, MacKenzie E, Meehan SR, Weiss C, Hefting N, Hobart M. Effects of Brexpiprazole on Functioning in Patients With Schizophrenia: Post Hoc Analysis of Short- and Long-Term Studies. J Clin Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 1;83(2):20m13793. doi: 10.4088/JCP.20m13793.
PubMed 35235720Marder SR, Meehan SR, Weiss C, Chen D, Hobart M, Hefting N. Effects of Brexpiprazole Across Symptom Domains in Patients With Schizophrenia: Post Hoc Analysis of Short- and Long-Term Studies. Schizophr Bull Open. 2021 May 1;2(1):sgab014. doi: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgab014. eCollection 2021 Jan.
PubMed 34901863Newcomer JW, Eriksson H, Zhang P, Weiller E, Weiss C. Changes in metabolic parameters and body weight in brexpiprazole-treated patients with acute schizophrenia: pooled analyses of phase 3 clinical studies. Curr Med Res Opin. 2018 Dec;34(12):2197-2205. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2018.1498779. Epub 2018 Jul 27.
PubMed 29985680Kane JM, Skuban A, Hobart M, Ouyang J, Weiller E, Weiss C, Correll CU. Overview of short- and long-term tolerability and safety of brexpiprazole in patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2016 Jul;174(1-3):93-98. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.04.013. Epub 2016 May 14.
PubMed 27188270Correll CU, Skuban A, Ouyang J, Hobart M, Pfister S, McQuade RD, Nyilas M, Carson WH, Sanchez R, Eriksson H. Efficacy and Safety of Brexpiprazole for the Treatment of Acute Schizophrenia: A 6-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2015 Sep 1;172(9):870-80. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.14101275. Epub 2015 Apr 16.
PubMed 25882325
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Oct 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Three Fixed Doses of OPC-34712 in the Treatment of Adults With Acute Schizophrenia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01396421
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- VECTOR / 331-10-231
- Conditions
- Acute Schizophrenia
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 636 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- Jul 2011
- Primary completion
- Jan 2014 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jan 2014 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Jul 2011 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 29 Oct 2015
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of three different doses of OPC-34712 with placebo in the treatment of acute schizophrenia in adults.
Detailed description
Schizophrenia is a severely debilitating mental illness that affects approximately 1% of the world population. Hallucinations and delusions are the most striking characteristic positive symptoms of schizophrenia; however, more subtle negative symptoms (eg, social withdrawal and lack of emotion, energy, and motivation) may also be present. The first antipsychotics developed for the treatment of schizophrenia were effective against positive symptoms, but showed little efficacy for negative symptoms and were also associated with a high incidence of side effects. Second generation antipsychotics, represent a significant advancement in the treatment of psychotic disorders because they are effective and at the same time exhibit fewer side effects than first generation antipsychotics. Although generally safer than first generation antipsychotics, the second-generation antipsychotics are not devoid of undesirable side effects such as Hyperprolactinemia and weight gain. In addition, the safety of these drugs vary considerably.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 4
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High Dose | Experimental | Drug: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High DoseHigher Dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks |
| OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle Dose | Experimental | Drug: Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle DoseMiddle Dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks |
| OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low Dose | Experimental | Drug: Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low DoseLower Dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: PlaceboPlacebo, once daily, for six weeks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Male or female subjects between 18 and 65 years of age, with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) criteria
- Subjects who have been recently hospitalized or who would benefit from hospitalization for an acute relapse of schizophrenia
- Subjects experiencing an acute exacerbation of psychotic symptoms
- Other protocol specific inclusion criteria may apply
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Females who are breast-feeding and/or who have a positive pregnancy test result prior to receiving study drug
- Subjects with a current DSM-IV-TR Axis I diagnosis of:
- Subjects presenting with a first episode of schizophrenia
- Other protocol specific exclusion criteria may apply
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High DoseHigher dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks | Drug | OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High Dose |
| Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle DoseMiddle dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks | Drug | OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle Dose |
| Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low DoseLower dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks | Drug | OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low Dose |
| PlaceboPlacebo, once daily, for six weeks | Drug | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Score.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
The PANSS consists of 3 subscales (positive subscale, negative subscale and general psychology subscale) containing a total of 30 symptom constructs and was administered using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCI)-PANSS. For each symptom construct, severity was rated on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 indicating the absence of symptoms and a score of 7 indicating extremely severe symptoms. The PANSS total score ranged from 30 (best possible outcome) to 210 (worst possible outcome).
15 secondary outcomes
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Illness Scale (CGI-S) Score.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Score.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Clinical Global Impression - Severity of Illness Scale (CGI-S) Score.
Time frame: Baseline to Week 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP)
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Positive Subscale Score
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Negative Subscale Score
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Clinical Global Impression- Improvement Scale (CGI-I) Score at Week 6
Time frame: Week 6
Response Rate at Week 6
Time frame: Week 6
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Excited Component (PEC) Score
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Discontinuation Rate for Lack of Efficacy at Week 6
Time frame: Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Factor Score - Positive Symptoms Score
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Factor Score - Negative Symptoms Score
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Disorganised Thought Score
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Uncontrolled Hostility/Excitement Score
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Anxiety Depression Score
Time frame: Baseline to Week 6
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Oct 2015.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42474330Citrome L, Farovik A, Palma AM, Yildirim M. Effects of Brexpiprazole on Functioning in Patients With Schizophrenia Who Have Hostility and Agitation Symptoms: Post Hoc Analysis of Short- and Long-Term Trials. J Clin Psychiatry. 2026 Jul 20;87(3):26m16448. doi: 10.4088/JCP.26m16448.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41849920Correll CU, Yildirim M, Zhang Z, Palma AM, Pham T, Pflug B. Efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole in early-episode schizophrenia: post hoc analysis of Phase 3 clinical trials in adults and adolescents. Psychiatry Res. 2026 Jun;360:117091. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2026.117091. Epub 2026 Mar 12.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40859756Ismail Z, Kapadia S, Palma AM, Yildirim M, Farovik A. Brexpiprazole for anxiety symptoms in schizophrenia: a pooled analysis of short- and long-term trials. Curr Med Res Opin. 2025 Aug;41(8):1535-1548. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2025.2552286. Epub 2025 Sep 11.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39749727Ismail Z, Meehan SR, Farovik A, Kapadia S, Palma AM, Zhang Z, McIntyre RS. Effects of brexpiprazole on patient life engagement in schizophrenia: post hoc analysis of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale data. Curr Med Res Opin. 2025 Jan;41(1):145-153. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2024.2440059. Epub 2025 Jan 3.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 35235720Correll CU, He Y, Therrien F, MacKenzie E, Meehan SR, Weiss C, Hefting N, Hobart M. Effects of Brexpiprazole on Functioning in Patients With Schizophrenia: Post Hoc Analysis of Short- and Long-Term Studies. J Clin Psychiatry. 2022 Mar 1;83(2):20m13793. doi: 10.4088/JCP.20m13793.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 34901863Marder SR, Meehan SR, Weiss C, Chen D, Hobart M, Hefting N. Effects of Brexpiprazole Across Symptom Domains in Patients With Schizophrenia: Post Hoc Analysis of Short- and Long-Term Studies. Schizophr Bull Open. 2021 May 1;2(1):sgab014. doi: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgab014. eCollection 2021 Jan.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 29985680Newcomer JW, Eriksson H, Zhang P, Weiller E, Weiss C. Changes in metabolic parameters and body weight in brexpiprazole-treated patients with acute schizophrenia: pooled analyses of phase 3 clinical studies. Curr Med Res Opin. 2018 Dec;34(12):2197-2205. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2018.1498779. Epub 2018 Jul 27.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 27188270Kane JM, Skuban A, Hobart M, Ouyang J, Weiller E, Weiss C, Correll CU. Overview of short- and long-term tolerability and safety of brexpiprazole in patients with schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2016 Jul;174(1-3):93-98. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.04.013. Epub 2016 May 14.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 25882325Correll CU, Skuban A, Ouyang J, Hobart M, Pfister S, McQuade RD, Nyilas M, Carson WH, Sanchez R, Eriksson H. Efficacy and Safety of Brexpiprazole for the Treatment of Acute Schizophrenia: A 6-Week Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2015 Sep 1;172(9):870-80. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.14101275. Epub 2015 Apr 16.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Aleksandar Skuban, M.D. study director
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.
60 sites in 9 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High Dose, Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle Dose and Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low Dose in people with Acute Schizophrenia, run by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. at 60 sites in 9 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Oct 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 60 sites in United States, Ukraine, Romania, Japan, Latvia and 4 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 29 Oct 2015). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Score. (time frame: Baseline to Week 6). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01396421, which also lists 9 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Oct 2015; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.