Schizophrenia drug Invega Hafyera lands in general hospitals

A long-acting injectable antipsychotic for adults with schizophrenia, taken twice a year

Passes drug committees of medical institutions in Korea including Asan Medical Center

Improved drug adherence through once-every-6-month administration

The long-acting formulation of the schizophrenia drug ‘Invega’ has landed in general hospitals in Korea.

 

According to industry sources, Invega Hafyera 1092mg/1560mg (paliperidone palmitate), Janssen Korea’s extended-release injectable suspension for patients with schizophrenia that is injected every 6 months, has passed the drug committees of medical institutions in Korea, including Seoul Asan Medical Center.

 

Janssen has been continuously working to create a prescription environment since it was listed for reimbursement in May.

 

Invega Hafyera was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in September 2022.

 

The 1-month extended-release injectable formulation of the same drug, Invega Sustenna, had been approved in July 2010 and granted reimbursement in November 2015.

 

With reimbursement, the drug is covered for all patients with schizophrenia in Korea, including first-episode patients.

 

The 3-month extended-release injectable formulation, Invega Trinza, was approved in June 2016 and is being reimbursed from September 2016.

 

Invega Hafyera is indicated for use in patients who have been adequately treated with: Invega Sustenna (once-a-month extended-release injectable suspension) for at least 4 months; or Invega Trinza (every-three-month extended-release injectable suspension) for at least one three-month cycle.

 

Patients who wish to switch to Invega Hafyera from Invega Sustenna 156mg receive Invega Hafyera 1092mg, and those switching from Invega Sustenna 234mg receive Invega Hafyera 1560mg as an initial dose.

 

In the case of Invega Trinza 546mg and 819mg, patients may switch to Invega HafyeraTM 1092mg, and 1560mg, respectively.

 

The safety and tolerance of the every-six-month injectable Invega Hafyera were confirmed through the PSY3015 study.

 

Se Hyun Kim, Professor of Psychiatry at Seoul National University Hospital, said, “Invega Hafyera can offer a broader range of benefits to patients who have seen a stable effect with Invega Sustenna or Invega Trinza.

 

The new formulation offers an opportunity to lower the barrier to injectable treatments for schizophrenia patients in Korea.” Kim added, “The long-acting injectable formulation allows continuous treatment with its stable medication adherence and improved convenience, and can provide benefits such as returning to society and regaining confidence for patients with schizophrenia.” In schizophrenia, the risk of worsening or relapsing symptoms is high with low medication adherence.

 

The long-acting injectable formulations offer a benefit in that aspect as it improves medication adherence over oral formulations, reduce medical cost and relapse or rehospitalization rates, improve symptoms and social function of the patients (when switching to a long-acting injectable formulation), and offer convent administration.

 

The treatment guidelines for schizophrenia in Korea allow long-acting injectable formulations to be administered to patients in all patients, from early to chronic stages.