Blinded SAPS-PD Assessment After 10 Weeks of Pimavanserin Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease Psychosis

BACKGROUND: Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP) is a common nonmotor symptom that affects up to 60% of patients. Pimavanserin, a selective 5-HT(2A) inverse agonist/antagonist, is approved for treating hallucinations and delusions associated with PDP. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of pimavanserin in an open-label extension (OLE) study. METHODS: Patients completing a pivotal 6-week placebo-controlled trial (Core Study) could enroll in the OLE. All patients pimavanserin 34 mg once daily, blinded to previous treatment allocation. Prespecified blinded assessments at Week 4 were the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) PD version and SAPS H + D scales, Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Improvement and Severity scales. RESULTS: Of 171 who entered the OLE, 148 (87%) completed Week 4. Among patients who received placebo in the Core Study, mean (SD) change from OLE baseline to OLE Week 4 for the SAPS-PD was – 3.4 (6.3); p < 0.0001. Mean change from Core Study baseline to OLE Week 4 for SAPS-PD was similar among prior pimavanserin- and placebo-treated patients (–6.9 vs. –6.3). Improvement was similar with CGI-I, CGI-S, CBS, and SAPS-H + D in patients previously treated with placebo. Adverse events occurred in 92 (53.8%) patients during the 4-week OLE. CONCLUSION: Improvements at OLE Week 4 from pretreatment baseline were similar with placebo and pimavanserin in the Core Study. The beneficial effects observed with pimavanserin in the 6-week Core Study were maintained for 4 weeks in the blinded OLE, supporting the durability of response with pimavanserin 34 mg for PDP over 10 weeks.