Seroquel XL (Quetiapine Prolonged Release): A Once Daily Formulation For Bipolar Mania And Schizophrenia Launches Today, UK

Today, Seroquel XL (quetiapine prolonged release), a new once daily formulation for schizophrenia and manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder, has become available in the UK.1


AstraZeneca has developed the new formulation of its atypical antipsychotic treatment to meet the needs of patients for whom a once daily dose is preferred and/or for whom1 effective control of symptoms is important. The launch of Seroquel XL is also expected to be welcomed by clinicians as it allows them to titrate to the target daily dose of 600mg by day two.1,2


A recent survey found that 86% of psychiatrists believe that if patient's symptoms are controlled quickly, they are more likely to make a recovery. The survey, conducted by ICM, also confirms that 52% of psychiatrists believe that current treatment options are not sufficient and most of their patients make a compromise on their quality of life due to the resulting symptoms.3


"The launch of Seroquel XL is excellent news for patients and healthcare professionals. Seroquel has shown efficacy across a wide spectrum of symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar mania and I believe that the new formulation gives an additional option to clinicians wishing to use quetiapine but preferring titration to target dose by day two and a simplified dosing regimen." 2,4,5,6 Dr Allan Young, Director of the University British Colombia Institute of Mental Health


Seroquel XL may also help clinicians meet targets set out in the 10 year programme for improving mental health services (the National Service Framework in Mental Health) and the NHS Plan, which call for more effective and earlier treatments for mental health patients by providing another treatment option.7


Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are relatively common mental disorders, each affecting approximately one in every 100 people in the UK at some time in their life.8,9 The direct cost to the NHS for treatment of schizophrenia in England and Wales is over ВЈ1 billion per year.10 For bipolar disorder, the cost to the NHS is approximately ВЈ199 million a year.10



The Seroquel SmPC is available on request or can be found at emc.medicines.uk/



Seroquel XL (quetiapine prolonged release) received a licence for treatment of schizophrenia and manic episodes, associated with bipolar disorder in September 2008.1 Seroquel XL is available in the following dosing strengths 50mg, 200mg, 300mg and 400mg. The recommended therapeutic dosing is to start on day one at 300mg and then titrate to 600mg on day two. The dose should be adjusted within the effective dose range of 400mg and 800mg as per day depending on clinical response. In schizophrenia doses over 600mg must be initiated by a specialist.1















About AstraZeneca


AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and supplier for healthcare services. AstraZeneca is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of US $29.55 billion and is a leader in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection product sales. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index. For more information about AstraZeneca, please visit: astrazeneca


References


1. Seroquel XL SmPC, electronic Medicines Compendium, September 2008. emc.medicines.uk (Accessed September 2008)


2. Cutler A, et al. Effectiveness of Extended Release Formulation of Quetiapine as Montherapy for the Treatment of Acute Bipolar Mania (trial D144CC00004). Presented at the Eighth International Review of Bipolar Disorder Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, 14-16 April, 2008


3. ICM. Psychiatrists Survey conduced amongst 100 UK Psychiatrists on behalf of AstraZeneca UK. June 2008


4. Small JG, Kolar MC, Kellams JJ. Quetiapine in schizophrenia: onset of action within the first week of treatment. Current Medical Research and Opinion 2004;20:1017-1023


5. Buckley PF. Efficacy of quetiapine for the treatment of schizophrenia: a combined analysis of three placebo-controlled trials. Curr Med Res Opin. 2004;20:1357-1363


6. Vieta E et al. Quetiapine monotherapy for mania associated with bipolar disorder; combined analyses of two international, double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled studies. Curr Med Res Opin. 2005 Jun;21(6):923-934


7. National Service Frameworks. A National Service Framework for Mental Health Modern Standards & Service Models. 1999. (Accessed September 2008)


8. Rethink. Schizophrenia factsheet (RET10113). (Accessed September 2008)


9. Bipolar Disorder. Rethink (Accessed 2008)


10. Mind. Statistics 5: The financial aspects of mental health problems _ (Accessed September 2008)


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View drug information on Seroquel.