Neurocrine Biosciences said Wednesday that the lowest dose of an experimental pill for schizophrenia reduced psychosis reported by patients in a mid-stage study, but higher doses of the drug also tested were ineffective.
The company said the study results supported advancing the medicine into Phase 3 studies next year. Investors viewed the mixed data with more concern, sending Neurocrine’s stock down 18% in early trading.
In the study, a 20 mg dose of the Neurocrine drug, called NBI-1117568, reduced schizophrenia symptoms by 18.2 points compared with a placebo decrease of 10.8 points, as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, or PANSS. The 7.5-point relative improvement in schizophrenia symptoms favoring the drug was statistically significant, Neurocrine said.
