Survival, Durable Tumor Remission, and Long-Term Safety in Patients With Advanced Melanoma Receiving Nivolumab.

PURPOSE: Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is an inhibitory receptor expressed by activated T cells that downmodulates effector functions and limits the generation of immune memory. PD-1 blockade can mediate tumor regression in a substantial proportion of patients with melanoma, but it is not known whether this is associated with extended survival or maintenance of response after treatment is discontinued. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced melanoma (N = 107) enrolled between 2008 and 2012 received intravenous nivolumab in an outpatient setting every 2 weeks for up to 96 weeks and were observed for overall survival, long-term safety, and response duration after treatment discontinuation. RESULTS: Median overall survival in nivolumab-treated patients (62% with two to five prior systemic therapies) was 16.8 months, and 1- and 2-year survival rates were 62% and 43%, respectively. Among 33 patients with objective tumor regressions (31%), the Kaplan-Meier estimated median response duration was 2 years. Seventeen patients discontinued therapy for reasons other than disease progression, and 12 (71%) of 17 maintained responses off-therapy for at least 16 weeks (range, 16 to 56+ weeks). Objective response and toxicity rates were similar to those reported previously; in an extended analysis of all 306 patients treated on this trial (including those with other cancer types), exposure-adjusted toxicity rates were not cumulative. CONCLUSION: Overall survival following nivolumab treatment in patients with advanced treatment-refractory melanoma compares favorably with that in literature studies of similar patient populations. Responses were durable and persisted after drug discontinuation. Long-term safety was acceptable. Ongoing randomized clinical trials will further assess the impact of nivolumab therapy on overall survival in patients with metastatic melanoma.

BMS-986012, an Anti-Fucosyl-GM1 Monoclonal Antibody as Monotherapy or in Combination With Nivolumab in Relapsed/Refractory SCLC: Results From a First-in-Human Phase 1/2 Study.

Introduction: Fucosyl-GM1 is a monosialoganglioside with limited expression in healthy tissues and high expression on SCLC cells. BMS-986012 is a nonfucosylated, first-in-class, fully human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that binds to fucosyl-GM1. Methods: CA001-030 is a phase 1/2, first-in-human study of BMS-986012 as monotherapy or in combination with nivolumab for adults with relapsed or refractory SCLC. Safety is the primary end point. Additional end points include objective response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, pharmacokinetics, and overall survival. Results: Patients (BMS-986012 monotherapy, n = 77; BMS-986012 + nivolumab, n = 29) were predominantly of male sex (58%), 63 years old (mean), current or past tobacco users (97%), and treated previously with first-line systemic therapy (99%). The most common treatment-related adverse event was pruritus (n = 95 [90%]). Grade 4 treatment-related adverse events were reported in 2% (n = 2) of patients. The objective response rate (95% confidence interval [CI]) was higher with BMS-986012 plus nivolumab (38% [20.7%-57.7%]) than with monotherapy (4% [0.8%-11.0%]). Median (95% CI) duration of response with BMS-986012 plus nivolumab was 26.4 (4.4-not reached) months. Progression-free survival (95% CI) at 24 weeks with monotherapy and BMS-986012 plus nivolumab was 12.2% (6.0%-20.7%) and 39.3% (21.7%-56.5%), respectively. The pharmacokinetics profile of monotherapy and BMS-986012 plus nivolumab suggested dose proportionality across the tested dose range. Median overall survival (95% CI) with monotherapy and BMS-986012 plus nivolumab was 5.4 (4.0-7.3) and 18.7 (8.2-37.3) months, respectively. Conclusions: BMS-986012 in combination with nivolumab represents a well-tolerated, potential new therapy for relapsed or refractory SCLC. BMS-986012 is currently being explored in combination with carboplatin, etoposide, and nivolumab as a first-line therapy in extensive-stage SCLC (NCT04702880).

BMS-986158, a Small Molecule Inhibitor of the Bromodomain and Extraterminal Domain Proteins, in Patients with Selected Advanced Solid Tumors: Results from a Phase 1/2a Trial.

This phase 1/2a, open-label study (NCT02419417) evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics of BMS-986158, a selective bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitor. Dose escalation was performed with 3 BMS-986158 dosing schedules: A (5 days on, 2 days off; range, 0.75-4.5 mg), B (14 days on, 7 days off; 2.0-3.0 mg), and C (7 days on, 14 days off; 2.0-4.5 mg). Eighty-three patients were enrolled and received ≥1 BMS-986158 dose. Diarrhea (43%) and thrombocytopenia (39%) were the most common treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). A lower incidence of TRAEs was found with schedules A (72%) and C (72%) vs. B (100%). Stable disease was achieved in 12 (26.1%), 3 (37.5%), and 9 (31.0%) patients on schedules A, B, and C, respectively. Two patients on schedule A with a 4.5-mg starting dose (ovarian cancer, n = 1; nuclear protein in testis [NUT] carcinoma, n = 1) experienced a partial response. BMS-986158 demonstrated rapid-to-moderate absorption (median time to maximum observed plasma concentration, 1-4 h). As expected with an epigenetic modifier, expression changes in select BET-regulated genes occurred with BMS-986158 treatment. Schedule A dosing (5 days on, 2 days off) yielded tolerable safety, preliminary antitumor activity, and a dose-proportional PK profile.

Nivolumab dose selection: challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned for cancer immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Immuno-oncology (I-O) therapies target the host immune system, providing the potential to choose a uniform dose and schedule across tumor types. However, dose selection for I-O agents usually occurs early in clinical development and is typically based on tumor response, which may not fully represent the potential for improved overall survival. Here, we describe an integrated approach which incorporates clinical safety and efficacy data with data obtained from analyses of dose-/exposure-response (D-R/E-R) relationships, used to select a monotherapy dose for nivolumab, a programmed death-1 inhibitor, in clinical studies of different tumor types. METHODS: Dose was selected based on anti-tumor activity and safety data from a large phase 1b, open-label, dose-escalation study of nivolumab at doses ranging from 0.1 to 10 mg/kg administered every 2 weeks (Q2W) in 306 patients with advanced malignancies, and quantitative analyses were performed to characterize D-R/E-R relationships for pharmacodynamic, safety, and efficacy endpoints. RESULTS: A maximum tolerated dose for nivolumab was not identified, and the safety profile was similar across tumor types and dose levels (0.1-10 mg/kg). Objective response rates (ORRs) were similar across doses in melanoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC), while higher ORRs were observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at 3 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg versus 1 mg/kg. Peripheral receptor occupancy was saturated at doses ≥ 0.3 mg/kg. In D-R/E-R analyses, a positive dose-dependent objective response trend was observed for each tumor type, but appeared to plateau at nivolumab doses of ≥ 1 mg/kg for melanoma and RCC, and at ≥ 3 mg/kg for NSCLC. Although there was no apparent relationship between tumor shrinkage rate and exposure, tumor progression rate appeared to decrease with increasing exposure up to a dose of 3 mg/kg Q2W for NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS: Nivolumab monotherapy at 3 mg/kg Q2W provides unified dosing across tumor types. This dose and schedule has been validated in several phase II/III studies in which overall survival was an endpoint. Integrating D-R/E-R relationships with efficacy data and a safety profile that is unique to I-O therapy is a rational approach for dose selection of these agents.

Overall Survival and Long-Term Safety of Nivolumab (Anti-Programmed Death 1 Antibody, BMS-936558, ONO-4538) in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE: Programmed death 1 is an immune checkpoint that suppresses antitumor immunity. Nivolumab, a fully human immunoglobulin G4 programmed death 1 immune checkpoint inhibitor antibody, was active and generally well tolerated in patients with advanced solid tumors treated in a phase I trial with expansion cohorts. We report overall survival (OS), response durability, and long-term safety in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving nivolumab in this trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (N = 129) with heavily pretreated advanced NSCLC received nivolumab 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg intravenously once every 2 weeks in 8-week cycles for up to 96 weeks. Tumor burden was assessed by RECIST (version 1.0) after each cycle. RESULTS: Median OS across doses was 9.9 months; 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 42%, 24%, and 18%, respectively, across doses and 56%, 42%, and 27%, respectively, at the 3-mg/kg dose (n = 37) chosen for further clinical development. Among 22 patients (17%) with objective responses, estimated median response duration was 17.0 months. An additional six patients (5%) had unconventional immune-pattern responses. Response rates were similar in squamous and nonsquamous NSCLC. Eighteen responding patients discontinued nivolumab for reasons other than progressive disease; nine (50%) of those had responses lasting > 9 months after their last dose. Grade 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 14% of patients. Three treatment-related deaths (2% of patients) occurred, each associated with pneumonitis. CONCLUSION: Nivolumab monotherapy produced durable responses and encouraging survival rates in patients with heavily pretreated NSCLC. Randomized clinical trials with nivolumab in advanced NSCLC are ongoing.

Survival, Durable Response, and Long-Term Safety in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Receiving Nivolumab.

PURPOSE: Blockade of the programmed death-1 inhibitory cell-surface molecule on immune cells using the fully human immunoglobulin G4 antibody nivolumab mediates tumor regression in a portion of patients with advanced treatment-refractory solid tumors. We report clinical activity, survival, and long-term safety in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with nivolumab in a phase I study with expansion cohorts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 34 patients with previously treated advanced RCC, enrolled between 2008 and 2012, received intravenous nivolumab (1 or 10 mg/kg) in an outpatient setting once every two weeks for up to 96 weeks and were observed for survival and duration of response after treatment discontinuation. RESULTS: Ten patients (29%) achieved objective responses (according to RECIST [version 1.0]), with median response duration of 12.9 months; nine additional patients (27%) demonstrated stable disease lasting > 24 weeks. Three of five patients who stopped treatment while in response continued to respond for ≥ 45 weeks. Median overall survival in all patients (71% with two to five prior systemic therapies) was 22.4 months; 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates were 71%, 48%, and 44%, respectively. Grade 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 18% of patients; all were reversible. CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced treatment-refractory RCC treated with nivolumab demonstrated durable responses that in some responders persisted after drug discontinuation. Overall survival is encouraging, and toxicities were generally manageable. Ongoing randomized clinical trials will further assess the impact of nivolumab on overall survival in patients with advanced RCC.

Survival, durable tumor remission, and long-term safety in patients with advanced melanoma receiving nivolumab.

PURPOSE: Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) is an inhibitory receptor expressed by activated T cells that downmodulates effector functions and limits the generation of immune memory. PD-1 blockade can mediate tumor regression in a substantial proportion of patients with melanoma, but it is not known whether this is associated with extended survival or maintenance of response after treatment is discontinued. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced melanoma (N = 107) enrolled between 2008 and 2012 received intravenous nivolumab in an outpatient setting every 2 weeks for up to 96 weeks and were observed for overall survival, long-term safety, and response duration after treatment discontinuation. RESULTS: Median overall survival in nivolumab-treated patients (62% with two to five prior systemic therapies) was 16.8 months, and 1- and 2-year survival rates were 62% and 43%, respectively. Among 33 patients with objective tumor regressions (31%), the Kaplan-Meier estimated median response duration was 2 years. Seventeen patients discontinued therapy for reasons other than disease progression, and 12 (71%) of 17 maintained responses off-therapy for at least 16 weeks (range, 16 to 56+ weeks). Objective response and toxicity rates were similar to those reported previously; in an extended analysis of all 306 patients treated on this trial (including those with other cancer types), exposure-adjusted toxicity rates were not cumulative. CONCLUSION: Overall survival following nivolumab treatment in patients with advanced treatment-refractory melanoma compares favorably with that in literature studies of similar patient populations. Responses were durable and persisted after drug discontinuation. Long-term safety was acceptable. Ongoing randomized clinical trials will further assess the impact of nivolumab therapy on overall survival in patients with metastatic melanoma.

The effects of liver impairment on the pharmacokinetics of brivanib, a dual inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases.

PURPOSE: Hepatic impairment may impede tyrosine kinase inhibitor metabolism. This phase I study compared the pharmacokinetics of brivanib in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and varying levels of hepatic impairment with those with non-HCC malignancies and normal liver function. METHODS: Patients were assigned to the following groups: Groups A, B, and C (HCC plus mild, moderate, or severe hepatic impairment, respectively) and Group D (non-HCC malignancy and normal hepatic function). Brivanib alaninate (brivanib prodrug) doses were 400 mg in Groups A, B, and D and 200 mg in Group C. Brivanib exposure was determined on day 1 (single dose) and day 28 (multiple doses). RESULTS: Twenty-four patients participated in the study. After a single brivanib alaninate dose, brivanib exposure was comparable between Groups A, B, and D. Area under the concentration-time curve was 50 % higher in Group C versus Group D. There were not enough data to draw conclusions on multiple doses. Safety profile in Groups A, B, and D was consistent with previous brivanib monotherapy experience. Tolerability could not be assessed in Group C because of dose interruptions and discontinuations, generally due to the disease natural history. CONCLUSIONS: Brivanib exposure was similar in patients with HCC and mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh [CP] A or B status) and those with non-HCC malignancies and normal hepatic function, suggesting dose adjustment is unnecessary with CP A or B status. Experience with HCC and severe hepatic impairment (CP C status) is insufficient to recommend brivanib use in this population.

Safety, activity, and immune correlates of anti-PD-1 antibody in cancer.

BACKGROUND: Blockade of programmed death 1 (PD-1), an inhibitory receptor expressed by T cells, can overcome immune resistance. We assessed the antitumor activity and safety of BMS-936558, an antibody that specifically blocks PD-1. METHODS: We enrolled patients with advanced melanoma, non-small-cell lung cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer, or renal-cell or colorectal cancer to receive anti-PD-1 antibody at a dose of 0.1 to 10.0 mg per kilogram of body weight every 2 weeks. Response was assessed after each 8-week treatment cycle. Patients received up to 12 cycles until disease progression or a complete response occurred. RESULTS: A total of 296 patients received treatment through February 24, 2012. Grade 3 or 4 drug-related adverse events occurred in 14% of patients; there were three deaths from pulmonary toxicity. No maximum tolerated dose was defined. Adverse events consistent with immune-related causes were observed. Among 236 patients in whom response could be evaluated, objective responses (complete or partial responses) were observed in those with non-small-cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal-cell cancer. Cumulative response rates (all doses) were 18% among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (14 of 76 patients), 28% among patients with melanoma (26 of 94 patients), and 27% among patients with renal-cell cancer (9 of 33 patients). Responses were durable; 20 of 31 responses lasted 1 year or more in patients with 1 year or more of follow-up. To assess the role of intratumoral PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression in the modulation of the PD-1-PD-L1 pathway, immunohistochemical analysis was performed on pretreatment tumor specimens obtained from 42 patients. Of 17 patients with PD-L1-negative tumors, none had an objective response; 9 of 25 patients (36%) with PD-L1-positive tumors had an objective response (P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-PD-1 antibody produced objective responses in approximately one in four to one in five patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, melanoma, or renal-cell cancer; the adverse-event profile does not appear to preclude its use. Preliminary data suggest a relationship between PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and objective response. (Funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00730639.).

Lack of effect of brivanib on the pharmacokinetics of midazolam, a CYP3A4 substrate, administered intravenously and orally in healthy participants.

Brivanib alaninate is the orally available prodrug of brivanib, a dual inhibitor of fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathways that is under therapeutic investigation for various malignancies. Brivanib alaninate inhibits CYP3A4 in vitro, and thus there is potential for drug-drug interaction with CYP3A4 substrates, such as midazolam. The present study evaluated pharmacokinetic parameters and safety/tolerability upon coadministration of brivanib alaninate and midazolam. Healthy participants received intravenous (IV) or oral midazolam with and without oral brivanib alaninate. Blood samples for pharmacokinetic analysis were collected up to 12 hours after midazolam and up to 48 hours after brivanib alaninate. Twenty-four participants were administered study drugs; 21 completed the trial. No clinically relevant effect of brivanib alaninate on the overall exposure to midazolam following IV or oral administration was observed. Orally administered brivanib alaninate was generally well tolerated in the presence of IV or oral midazolam. The lack of a pharmacokinetic interaction between brivanib and midazolam indicates that brivanib alaninate does not influence either intestinal or hepatic CYP3A4 and confirms that brivanib alaninate may be safely coadministered with midazolam and other CYP3A4 substrates.

Lack of food effect on single-dose pharmacokinetics of brivanib, and safety and efficacy following multiple doses in subjects with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

PURPOSE: Brivanib alaninate, an orally available prodrug of brivanib, is currently under evaluation for the treatment of several malignancies. This study aimed to (1) investigate effects of a high-fat meal on single-dose pharmacokinetics of brivanib in subjects with advanced/metastatic solid tumors and (2) assess the safety and preliminary efficacy of single and multiple doses of brivanib alaninate in this population. METHODS: A two-part study was conducted consisting of a single-dose phase (Part A) and a multiple-dose phase (Part B). In Part A, subjects received a single dose of brivanib alaninate (800 mg) either in a fasting state or following ingestion of a high-fat meal (approximately 951 kcal [15% protein, 33% carbohydrate, 52% fat]); serial blood samples were collected for pharmacokinetic analysis up to 48 h post-dosing. In Part B, subjects received brivanib alaninate (800 mg) once daily until discontinuation. Throughout both phases, subjects were evaluated for adverse events (AEs) and best clinical response. RESULTS: No clinically significant differences in brivanib exposure were observed between fed and fasting subjects in Part A; C (max) was unchanged and AUC(INF) decreased marginally when administered in a fed versus fasted state. In Part A, the incidence of treatment-emergent AEs was broadly similar in a fed or fasted state. Brivanib alaninate was generally well tolerated throughout the study and showed preliminary evidence of antitumor activity. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of a high-fat meal had no significant effect on brivanib pharmacokinetics. The study further demonstrates the acceptable safety/tolerability profile and antitumor potential of brivanib in patients with advanced malignancies.

Repeatability of 18F-FDG PET in a multicenter phase I study of patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies.

UNLABELLED: (18)F-FDG PET is often used to monitor tumor response in multicenter oncology clinical trials. This study assessed the repeatability of several semiquantitative standardized uptake values (mean SUV [SUV(mean)], maximum SUV [SUV(max)], peak SUV [SUV(peak)], and the 3-dimensional isocontour at 70% of the maximum pixel value [SUV(70%)]) as measured by repeated baseline (18)F-FDG PET studies in a multicenter phase I oncology trial. METHODS: Double-baseline (18)F-FDG PET studies were acquired for 62 sequentially enrolled patients. Tumor metabolic activity was assessed by SUV(mean), SUV(max), SUV(peak), and SUV(70%). The effect on SUV repeatability of compliance with recommended image-acquisition guidelines and quality assurance (QA) standards was assessed. Summary statistics for absolute differences relative to the average of baseline values and repeatability analysis were performed for all patients and for a subgroup that passed QA, in both a multi- and a single-observer setting. Intrasubject precision of baseline measurements was assessed by repeatability coefficients, intrasubject coefficients of variation (CV), and confidence intervals on mean baseline differences for all SUV parameters. RESULTS: The mean differences between the 2 SUV baseline measurements were small, varying from -2.1% to 1.9%, and the 95% confidence intervals for these mean differences had a maximum half-width of about 5.6% across the SUV parameters assessed. For SUV(max), the intrasubject CV varied from 10.7% to 12.8% for the QA multi- and single-observer datasets and was 16% for the full dataset. The 95% repeatability coefficients ranged from -28.4% to 39.6% for the QA datasets and up to -34.3% to 52.3% for the full dataset. CONCLUSION: Repeatability results of double-baseline (18)F-FDG PET scans were similar for all SUV parameters assessed, for both the full and the QA datasets, in both the multi- and the single-observer settings. Centralized quality assurance and analysis of data improved intrasubject CV from 15.9% to 10.7% for averaged SUV(max). Thresholds for metabolic response in the multicenter multiobserver non-QA settings were -34% and 52% and in the range of -26% to 39% with centralized QA. These results support the use of (18)F-FDG PET for tumor assessment in multicenter oncology clinical trials.

An open-label study of aripiprazole: pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and effectiveness in children and adolescents with conduct disorder.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated flexible-dose pharmacokinetics, safety, and effectiveness of aripiprazole in children and adolescents with conduct disorder (CD). METHODS: This open-label, 15-day, three-center study with an optional 36-month extension enrolled a total of 23 patients: 12 children (6-12 years) and 11 adolescents (13-17 years) with CD and a score of 2-3 on the Rating of Aggression Against People and/or Property (RAAPP). Initially, the protocol used the following dosing: subjects <25 kg, 2 mg/day; subjects 25-50 kg, 5 mg/day; subjects >50-70 kg, 10 mg/day; and subjects >70 kg, 15 mg/day. Due to vomiting and sedation, this schedule was revised to: <25 kg, 1 mg/day; 25-50 kg, 2 mg/day; >50-70 kg, 5 mg/day; and >70 kg, 10 mg/day. RESULTS: Aripiprazole pharmacokinetics were linear, and steady state appeared to be attained within 14 days. Both groups demonstrated improvements in RAAPP scores and Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S) scores. Adverse events were similar to the known profile for aripiprazole in adults. CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics of aripiprazole in children and adolescents are linear and comparable with those in adults. Aripiprazole was generally well-tolerated in patients with CD, particularly after protocol adjustments, with improvements in aggressive behavior.

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of intramuscular, oral and intravenous aripiprazole in healthy subjects and in patients with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who are experiencing acute behavioural emergencies often require intramuscular injection of antipsychotics for rapid symptom resolution. The efficacy and tolerability of intramuscular aripiprazole injection has been established in agitated inpatients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder. The main objective of the two clinical pharmacology studies reported here was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of aripiprazole after intramuscular dosing in healthy subjects and in patients with schizophrenia, and after intravenous and oral dosing in healthy subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Study 1 was an open-label, randomized, three-treatment crossover study in healthy subjects (n = 18) to assess the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of intramuscular aripiprazole 5 mg and oral aripiprazole 5 mg relative to intravenous aripiprazole 2 mg. Study 2 was an open-label, nonrandomized, escalating-dose study in patients with schizophrenia (n = 32) to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of intramuscular aripiprazole across a range of doses (from 1 mg to 45 mg). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The noncompartmental pharmacokinetic parameters for plasma concentrations of aripiprazole and its active metabolite dehydro-aripiprazole were determined. Safety and tolerability data are also summarized. RESULTS: In study 1, the geometric mean values for the absolute bioavailability of aripiprazole following oral and intramuscular administration were 0.85 and 0.98, respectively. Intramuscular aripiprazole demonstrated more rapid attainment of plasma aripiprazole concentrations than oral aripiprazole (78% and 5% of peak plasma concentration [C(max)] values at 0.5 hours postdose, respectively). The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) in the first 2 hours was 90% higher after intramuscular administration than after oral administration. For dehydro-aripiprazole, the AUC over the collection interval values were higher, the times to reach the C(max) values were later and the C(max) values were similar for the intramuscular and oral formulations. In study 2, the proportionality of the C(max) and AUC to doses ranging from 1 mg to 45 mg suggests a linear pharmacokinetic profile for intramuscular aripiprazole. CONCLUSION: More rapid absorption was observed following intramuscular aripiprazole injection than following oral dosing. These results support the recently reported efficacy of intramuscular aripiprazole for managing agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder.