Antipsychotic drug lurasidone launched in Philippine market

Healthcare company Wellesta Buergli and pharmaceutical firm Sumitomo Pharma have launched lurasidone, an innovative antipsychotic drug, in the Philippines.

Lurasidone, marketed under the brand name Latuda, is an atypical antipsychotic to treat both schizophrenia and bipolar depression.

Dr. Joan Mae Perez-Rifareal, the president of the Philippine Psychiatric Association, welcomed the introduction in the country of lurasidone.

"Lurasidone offers us new possibilities in managing bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, conditions that can impose profound challenges on individuals and their loved ones,” Rifareal said during the launch in April at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas.

Mental disorders in the Philippines are a major concern with a Department of Health study conducted in 2020 showing 3.6 million Filipinos were affected by mental conditions, with depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia being among the most prevalent.

Wellesta country head Carla Aquino said lurasidone's pharmacological profile offers promise for patients who have long waited for effective treatments with favorable side effect profiles.

"Our aim is to improve access to advanced mental health treatments in the Philippines, addressing the growing need for effective therapies in managing schizophrenia and bipolar depression," Aquino said at the launch held recently at the Marco Polo in Ortigas.

Schizophrenia is a significant challenge with data from the Philippine Health Information System on Mental Health indicating 42% of patients seeking psychiatric care are diagnosed with this disorder.

Bipolar disorder also significantly impacts the Philippines' population with the same PHIS-MH data showing that 15% of patients seeking psychiatric care are diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

"This underscores the urgent need for effective treatments tailored to the unique challenges faced by Filipinos," Aquino said.

Hiroki Uemukai, managing director of Sumitomo Pharma Asia Pacific Pte, Ltd., said Latuda has a wealth of clinical and preclinical evidence which are useful among psychiatrists around the world. 

"I am extremely pleased that we are now able to launch Latuda in the Philippines through our partner company Wellesta. And we strongly believe that Latuda will serve as a treatment option for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients in the Philippines as it is in other countries," Hiroki said. –NB, GMA Integrated News