In a presentation at a high-profile medical conference in Puerto Rico, Lilly said the study showed that Zyprexa provided more benefit to schizophrenic patients, as measured by a number of criteria. A greater proportion of schizophrenia patients made it through the full 28-week trial if they were treated with Lilly's Zyprexa, suggesting the new drug produced fewer unpleasant side effects.
Most antipsychotic drugs produce strong side effects, such as uncontrollable limb movements.
It said Zyprexa generated fewer incidences of certain side effects, and said the test on 339 subjects suggested that Zyprexa patients were somewhat less likely to have suffered a relapse. Among other things, it said, the dosage of Risperdal used in the study was substantially higher than the average dose used in standard clinical practice. It said the data on relapse rates are open to question as well.