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AzTrials

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.

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 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

Other trials in United States

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

Other trials in Ukraine

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

Other trials in Romania

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

Other trials in Japan

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

Other trials in Latvia

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

Other trials in South Korea

Poland4 sites
  • Study site

    Choroszcz, 16-070

  • Study site

    Gdansk, 80-282

  • Study site

    Gdansk, 80-952

  • Study site

    Lodz, 91-229

Other trials in Poland

Canada3 sites
  • Study site

    Burlington, Ontario, L7R 4E2

  • Study site

    Chatham, Ontario, N7L 1B7

  • Study site

    Chatham, Ontario, N7M 5L9

Other trials in Canada

Serbia3 sites
  • Study site

    Belgrade, 11000

  • Study site

    Kragujevac, 34000

  • Study site

    Novi Sad, 21000

Other trials in Serbia

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.

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 groups in NCT01396421
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High DoseExperimentalHigher Dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks
Receives: Drug: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] High Dose
OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle DoseExperimentalMiddle Dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks
Receives: Drug: Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Middle Dose
OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low DoseExperimentalLower Dose, tablet, once daily, for six weeks
Receives: Drug: Experimental: OPC-34712 [Brexpiprazole] Low Dose
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 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)
  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. Discontinuation Rate for Lack of Efficacy at Week 6

    Measured: Week 6

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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.

  1. First posted18 Jul 2011 (estimated)
  2. Study startJul 2011
  3. Primary completionJan 2014
  4. Study completionJan 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
636 participants (actual)
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

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
  • Correll 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

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.

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