Tokyo and Princeton, N.J. – Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) and its U.S. subsidiary, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) announce termination of development of the novel compound AVP-786, which was in development as a potential treatment for patients with agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. 

Otsuka initiated Phase 3 clinical trials for AVP-786. In the top-line results of the Phase 3 trial NCT03393520 (#305 trial) that Otsuka announced in February this year, no statistically significant difference was observed between AVP-786 and placebo in the primary endpoint—average change from baseline to week 12 in the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) total score. After a detailed analysis of results from the completed trial, Otsuka and OPDC have decided to terminate the development of this drug candidate. 

As a leading company in the central nervous system field, Otsuka will continue research and development efforts to meet unresolved medical needs and will continue to focus on addressing agitation associated with Alzheimer's disease. 

About Otsuka 

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: Otsuka–people creating new products for better health worldwide. Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health. 
   
In pharmaceuticals, Otsuka is a leader in the challenging areas of mental, renal, and cardiovascular health and has additional research programs in oncology and on several under-addressed diseases including tuberculosis, a significant global public health issue. These commitments illustrate how Otsuka is a “big venture” company at heart, applying a youthful spirit of creativity in everything it does. 

Otsuka established a presence in the U.S. in 1973 and today its U.S. affiliates include Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI). These two companies’ 2,250 employees in the U.S. develop and commercialize medicines in the areas of mental health and nephrology, using cutting-edge technology to address unmet healthcare needs. 

OPDC and OAPI are indirect subsidiaries of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The Otsuka group of companies employed 34,400 people worldwide and had consolidated sales of approximately USD 14.2 billion in 2023. 

All Otsuka stories start by taking the road less traveled. Learn more about Otsuka in the U.S. at www.otsuka-us.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @OtsukaUS. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.’s global website is accessible at https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/. 

 

Contacts 

Otsuka in the U.S. 

Robert Murphy 
Corporate Communications 
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. 
robert.murphy@otsuka-us.com 
+1 609 249 7262 

 

Otsuka outside the U.S. 

Jeffrey Gilbert  
Leader, Pharmaceutical PR   
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 
Gilbert.jeffrey.a@otsuka.co.jp 

 

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