AzTrials
AzTrials

Acute SchizophreniaPhase 3BEACONNCT01393613

Efficacy Study of OPC-34712 in Adults With Acute Schizophrenia

A Phase 3 study testing OPC-34712 in people with Acute Schizophrenia, run by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. at 60 sites in 8 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of fixed doses of OPC-34712 versus placebo for the treatment of adult subjects with an acute relapse of schizophrenia. 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
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
674 participants
Where
60 sitesin 8 countries
Study dates
Jul 2011to Feb 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 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
  • 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 8 countries.

60 sites in 8 countries

United States19 sites
  • Study site

    Austin, Texas, 78756

  • Study site

    Buffalo, New York, 14215

  • Study site

    Dallas, Texas, 75243

  • Study site

    Escondido, California, 92025

  • Study site

    Flowood, Mississippi, 39232

  • Study site

    Houston, Texas, 77007

  • Study site

    Lake Charles, Louisiana, 70629

  • Study site

    Little Rock, Arkansas, 72201

  • Study site

    Long Beach, California, 90813

  • Study site

    Memphis, Tennessee, 38119

  • Study site

    North Miami, Florida, 33161

  • Study site

    North Miami, Florida, 33162

  • Study site

    Orange, California, 92868

  • Study site

    Overland Park, Kansas, 66212

  • Study site

    Pico Rivera, California, 90660

  • Study site

    San Diego, California, 92102

  • Study site

    Shreveport, Louisiana, 71104

  • Study site

    Springdale, Arkansas, 72764

  • Study site

    St Louis, Missouri, 63118

Other trials in United States

Russia15 sites
  • Study site

    Arkhangelsk, 163530

  • Study site

    Moscow, 117152

  • Study site

    Moscow, 119991

  • Study site

    Moscow Region, 142601

  • Study site

    Nizhny Novgorod, 603155

  • Study site

    Petrozavodsk, 185000

  • Study site

    Saint Petersburg, 190005

  • Study site

    Saint Petersburg, 190121

  • Study site

    Saint Petersburg, 192019

  • Study site

    Saint Petersburg, 194214

  • Study site

    Saint Petersburg, 197341

  • Study site

    Samara, 443016

  • Study site

    Saratov, 410060

  • Study site

    Tomsk, 634014

  • Study site

    Village Nikolskoe, 188357

Other trials in Russia

Mexico5 sites
  • Study site

    Col. Florida, Mexico City, 01030

  • Study site

    Mexico City, Mexico City, 05300

  • Study site

    Monterrey, Nuevo León, 64060

  • Study site

    Monterrey, 64060

  • Study site

    San Luis Potosí City, San Luis Potos, 78218

Other trials in Mexico

Philippines5 sites
  • Study site

    Cebu City, 6000

  • Study site

    Davano City, 8000

  • Study site

    Makati City, 1229

  • Study site

    Mandaluyong, 1553

  • Study site

    Manila, 1000

Other trials in Philippines

Slovakia5 sites
  • Study site

    Bojnice, 97201

  • Study site

    Bratislava, 82606

  • Study site

    Michalovace, 07101

  • Study site

    Rimavská Sobota, 97912

  • Study site

    Rožňava, 04801

Other trials in Slovakia

Taiwan5 sites
  • Study site

    Kaohsiung City, 802

  • Study site

    New Taipei City, 249

  • Study site

    Taichung, 40447

  • Study site

    Taipei, 110

  • Study site

    Taoyuan, 333

Other trials in Taiwan

Colombia3 sites
  • Study site

    Bogotá, 00000

  • Study site

    Medellín, 00000

  • Study site

    Pereira, 00000

Other trials in Colombia

Croatia3 sites
  • Study site

    Rijeka, 51000

  • Study site

    Zagreb, 10000

  • Study site

    Zagreb, 10090

Other trials in Croatia

About this study

Official title: A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Fixed-dose OPC-34712 in the Treatment of Adults With Acute Schizophrenia

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of fixed doses of OPC-34712 versus placebo for the treatment of adult subjects with an acute relapse of schizophrenia.

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.

Being tested
OPC-34712, Placebo

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • OPC-34712Drug

    Higher dose tablet, once daily, for six weeks,

  • OPC-34712Drug

    Middle dose tablet, once daily, for six weeks

  • OPC-34712Drug

    Lower dose tablet, once daily, for six weeks

  • PlaceboDrug

    Placebo, once daily, for six weeks

Study groups in NCT01393613
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Dose 3 OPC 34712ExperimentalHigher dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks
Receives: Drug: OPC-34712
Dose 2 OPC 34712ExperimentalMiddle dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks
Receives: Drug: OPC-34712
Dose 1 OPC 34712ExperimentalLower dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks
Receives: Drug: OPC-34712
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorPlacebo, 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.

  1. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Score.

    The PANSS consisted of three subscales: a total of 30 symptom constructs. For each symptom construct, severity was rated on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 (absence of symptoms) and a score of 7 (extremely severe symptoms). The PANSS total score was the sum of the rating scores for 7 positive scale items, 7 negative scale items, and 16 general psychopathology scale items from the PANSS panel. The PANSS total score ranged from 30 (best possible outcome) to 210 (worst possible outcome).

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

Secondary outcomes (13)
  1. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) Score.

    Severity of illness for each participant was rated using the CGI-S, which was the key secondary efficacy endpoint. To perform this assessment, the 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 participants.

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

  2. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in Personal and Social Performance (PSP) Score.

    PSP is a validated clinician-rated scale that measures personal and social functioning in 4 domains: socially useful activities (e.g. 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, Week 3 and Week 6

  3. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Positive Subscale Score.

    PANSS consisted of three subscales: a total of 30 symptom constructs. For each construct, severity was rated on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 (absence of symptoms) and a score of 7 (extremely severe symptoms). The PANSS positive subscale score was the sum of the rating scores for the 7 positive scale items from the PANSS panel. The 7 positive symptom constructs are delusions, conceptual disorganization, hallucinatory behavior, excitement, grandiosity, suspiciousness/persecution, and hostility. The PANSS positive subscale score ranged from 7 (best possible outcome) to 49 (worst possible outcome). The analysis of secondary endpoints was conducted if both comparisons of brexpiprazole 4 mg/day vs placebo and brexpiprazole 2 mg/day vs placebo of the primary endpoint were significant. Although only the comparison of brexpiprazole 4 mg/day vs placebo met the gatekeeping threshold in the primary analysis, statistical testing for the other doses was reported for information.

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

  4. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Negative Subscale Score.

    The PANSS consisted of three subscales: a total of 30 symptom constructs. For each symptom construct, severity was rated on a 7-point scale, with a score of 1 (absence of symptoms) and a score of 7 (extremely severe symptoms). The PANSS negative subscale score was the sum of the rating scores for the 7 negative scale items from the PANSS panel. The 7 negative symptom constructs: blunted affect, emotional withdrawal, poor rapport, passive apathetic withdrawal, difficulty in abstract thinking, lack of spontaneity and flow of conversation, stereotyped thinking. The PANSS negative subscale score ranged from 7 (best possible outcome) to 49 (worst possible outcome).

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

  5. Mean Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) Scale Score at Week 6.

    The efficacy of trial medication was rated for each participant using the CGI-I. The study physician would rate the participant's total improvement whether or not it is due entirely to drug treatment. All responses were compared to the participant's condition at Baseline prior to the first dose of double-blind study medication. Response choices included: 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

  6. Percentage of Participants With Response at Week 6.

    The response rate was defined as reduction of ≥30% from Baseline in PANSS Total Score or CGI-I score of 1 or 2.

    Measured: Week 6

  7. Percentage of Participants With Discontinuation Rate for Lack of Efficacy at Week 6.

    Participants discontinued for lack of efficacy during the trial were reported here.

    Measured: Week 6

  8. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Excited Component (PEC) Score.

    The PEC score consisted of five PANSS items: excitement (P4), hostility (P7), tension (G4), uncooperativeness (G8), and poor impulse control (G14). Each of the items were rated on a scale of 1 (absent) to 7 (extreme). The PEC scores ranged from 5 (not present) to 35 (extremely severe).

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

  9. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Factor Scores: Positive Symptoms Score.

    Retrospective factor analyses have been performed in recent decades using scores for the 30 individual PANSS items to categorize symptoms into 5 dimensions. Collectively, these dimensions are referred to as the PANSS Marder Factor scores and include positive symptoms score, negative symptoms score, thought score, uncontrolled hostility/excitement, anxiety depression score. The positive factor score is the sum of the 8 components of the positive symptoms scale (range: 8 - best possible outcome to 56 - worst possible outcome).

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

  10. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Factor Scores: Negative Symptoms Score.

    Retrospective factor analyses have been performed in recent decades using scores for the 30 individual PANSS items to categorize symptoms into 5 dimensions. Collectively, these dimensions are referred to as the PANSS Marder Factor scores and include positive symptoms score, negative symptoms score, thought score, uncontrolled hostility/excitement, anxiety depression score. The negative factor score is the sum of the 7 items of the negative subscale (range: 8 - best possible outcome to 56 - worst possible outcome).

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

  11. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Factor Scores: Disorganized Thought Score.

    Retrospective factor analyses have been performed in recent decades using scores for the 30 individual PANSS items to categorize symptoms into 5 dimensions. Collectively, these dimensions are referred to as the PANSS Marder Factor scores and include positive symptoms score, negative symptoms score, thought score, uncontrolled hostility/excitement, anxiety depression score. The disorganized thoughts factor score is the sum of score from the 7 items on the disorganized thoughts subscale (range: 7 - best possible outcome to 49 - worst possible outcome).

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

  12. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Factor Scores: Uncontrolled Hostility and Excitement Score.

    Retrospective factor analyses have been performed in recent decades using scores for the 30 individual PANSS items to categorize symptoms into 5 dimensions. Collectively, these dimensions are referred to as the PANSS Marder Factor scores and include positive symptoms score, negative symptoms score, thought score, uncontrolled hostility/excitement, anxiety depression score. The uncontrolled hostility/excitement factor score is the sum of score from the 4 items on the uncontrolled hostility/excitement subscale (range: 4 - best possible outcome to 28 - worst possible outcome).

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

  13. Mean Change From Baseline to Week 6 in PANSS Marder Factor Scores: Anxiety and Depression Score.

    Retrospective factor analyses have been performed in recent decades using scores for the 30 individual PANSS items to categorize symptoms into 5 dimensions. Collectively, these dimensions are referred to as the PANSS Marder Factor scores and include positive symptoms score, negative symptoms score, thought score, uncontrolled hostility/excitement, anxiety depression score. The anxiety/depression factor score is the sum of score from the 4 items on the anxiety/depression subscale (range: 4 - best possible outcome to 28 - worst possible outcome).

    Measured: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted13 Jul 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2011
  3. Primary completionFeb 2014
  4. Study completionFeb 2014

Resources

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
674 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01393613
Sponsor's protocol ID
331-10-230
Acronym
BEACON
Status last verified
Oct 2015
First submitted
11 Jul 2011
Last updated
26 Nov 2015
Data monitoring committee
No

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 42474330
  • Correll 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 41849920
  • Ismail 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 40859756
  • Ismail 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 39749727
  • Correll 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 35235720
  • Marder 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 34901863
  • Newcomer 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 29985680
  • Kane 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 27188270
  • Kane JM, Skuban A, Ouyang J, Hobart M, Pfister S, McQuade RD, Nyilas M, Carson WH, Sanchez R, Eriksson H. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled phase 3 trial of fixed-dose brexpiprazole for the treatment of adults with acute schizophrenia. Schizophr Res. 2015 May;164(1-3):127-35. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2015.01.038. Epub 2015 Feb 12.

    PubMed 25682550

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing OPC-34712 in people with Acute Schizophrenia, run by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. at 60 sites in 8 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 26 Nov 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, Russia, Mexico, Philippines, Slovakia and 3 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 26 Nov 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 in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Total Score. (time frame: Baseline, Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 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 NCT01393613, 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 26 Nov 2015.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in