[E-Daily Reporter NA EUN-KYUNG ] On the 1st, BukwangPharmaceutical(003000)announced that the results of a study analyzing changes in body weight and depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder after switching from conventional antipsychotic medications to lurasidone (brand name “Latuda”) were published in the international academic journal “BMC Psychiatry.”

This study is a multicenter, retrospective observational study that analyzed the medical records of 155 adult patients with bipolar disorder who were taking aripiprazole, quetiapine, or olanzapine for at least 8 weeks at 12 psychiatric clinics in South Korea and switched to lurasidone due to weight gain. The research team evaluated changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), depressive symptoms, and safety over a 16-week period following the switch to lurasidone.

The primary outcome measure, mean body weight, decreased by 2.06 kg, from 74.49 kg before switching to lurasidone to 72.43 kg after 16 weeks. The 95% confidence interval was –2.50 to –1.62 kg, indicating a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001). The mean BMI also decreased by 0.76 kg/m² during the same period, from 27.03 kg/m² to 26.28 kg/m². A weight loss of 5% or more from baseline was observed in 40 patients, representing 25.8% of the total study population.

A total of 129 participants (83.2%) had switched from aripiprazole to lurasidone. The remaining patients included 21 (13.6%) on quetiapine and 5 (3.2%) on olanzapine. An average weight loss of 1.99 kg was also observed after 16 weeks in patients switched from aripiprazole. The researchers noted that weight loss was observed not only in patients switched from specific antipsychotic medications but across the entire study population.

Depressive symptoms also decreased following the switch. The total score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) decreased by an average of 5.36 points over 16 weeks, and the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) score decreased by an average of 0.80 points. Both measures were statistically significant (p < 0.0001).

In the safety analysis, adverse events occurring during treatment were identified in the medical records of 5 out of 155 patients (3.2%), all of which were mild. No serious adverse events were recorded. However, this study was an observational study that retrospectively analyzed medical records of patients who maintained lurasidone treatment for 16 weeks. The research team also explained that, due to the study’s design—which lacked a control group—they could not definitively establish a causal relationship between changes in body weight and depressive symptoms and the switch to lurasidone, and that future prospective controlled studies are needed.

Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic that modulates dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors, among others. It is used overseas to treat bipolar depression, and meta-analyses synthesizing existing clinical trials have evaluated its effectiveness in improving depressive symptoms as well as its effects on metabolic markers such as body weight and blood glucose levels.

A representative from BukwangPharmaceutical stated, “It is significant that we are able to share data on lurasidone accumulated in the actual clinical setting in Korea through an international academic journal,” adding, “In particular, we have secured domestic clinical data on weight changes and metabolism-related issues that must be considered during the long-term treatment of bipolar disorder.”

The spokesperson continued, “We will continue to generate academic evidence and support research that can assist healthcare professionals in making treatment decisions in the field of mental health.”