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Long-acting injectable antipsychotics play a crucial role in the treatment of schizophrenia, offering a sustained approach to medication delivery. Our team specializes in developing long-acting injectables for treating schizophrenia, working with a range of formulations to meet diverse client needs.
Read on to explore everything you need to know about using long-acting injectables to treat schizophrenia and the benefits of the process over oral antipsychotics.
What Are Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics?
Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are medications that are used to treat a wide range of major depressive disorders. They are formulated to stay in the body for an extended period of time, allowing for sustained effects between doses.
The History of Long-Acting Injectables
Long-acting injectable antipsychotics have evolved significantly since the process’s introduction. The first LAIs introduced, including fluphenazine decanoate and haloperidol decanoate, did provide extended symptom control but were associated with a higher risk of motor side effects.
However, the LAI formulations used today have a lower risk of movement-related side effects and offer more choices for personalized treatment, allowing patients and providers to select the most suitable option based on individual needs.
How Long-Acting Injectables Work for Treating Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is associated with an overactive dopamine system, which leads to symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Long-acting injectable psychotics help manage schizophrenia by:
- Regulating dopamine levels – This, in turn, reduces symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions
- Creating a sustained-release effect – The approach forms a depot at the injection site, allowing the medication to be gradually absorbed over time
Benefits of Long-Acting Injectables for Schizophrenia Over Oral Antipsychotics
Long-acting injectable antipsychotic drugs have helped many individuals living with mental illness by providing:
- Improved adherence – Lowering the risk of missed medication and helping patients stay on track with treatment
- Lower risk of relapse – Ensuring continuous symptom control, reducing the likelihood of relapse due to skipped doses
- More consistent medication levels – Providing a steady dose over time, reducing the peaks and valleys associated with daily oral medication
- Less frequent dosing – Requiring administration only every few weeks or months, compared to oral antipsychotics that must be taken daily
Choosing the Right Long-Acting Injectable for Schizophrenia: A Guide to Available Formulations
There are many types of long-acting injectable antipsychotics to choose from that are designed to meet different patient needs. Some of the most commonly prescribed LAIs for schizophrenia include:
- Fluphenazine decanoate – One of the first generation LAIs, known for its extended symptom control
- Haloperidol decanoate – A long-standing option that is known to provide sustained symptom relief
- Risperidone microspheres – A second-generation LAI designed to maintain stable plasma concentrations
About the Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics from Oakwood Labs
Here at Oakwood Labs, we are a global leader in sustained-release drug delivery, specializing in diverse areas, including the development and manufacturing of long-acting injectable antipsychotics to treat schizophrenia. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, we provide full-service support, from initial feasibility studies to FDA-approved commercial supply.
Using our patented Chroniject™ technology, we design LAIs with controlled release durations, minimizing fluctuations in medical levels for consistent symptom management. This technology allows for scalable production, ensuring reliable formulations from lab-scale development to commercial manufacturing.
By combining innovative drug encapsulation technology with a commitment to quality, we play a key role in advancing long-acting injectables for schizophrenia by:
- Customizing formulations to provide steady medication release
- Supporting all phases of drug development
- Offering aseptic manufacturing to ensure product quality and safety
FAQs on Long-Acting Injectables for Schizophrenia
Are there any recommendations for managing treatment with long-acting injectables for schizophrenia?
Yes! Some recommendations for managing treatment include:
- Keeping up with scheduled injection appointments to maintain symptom control
- Following a consistent daily routine, including sleep and meals
- Participating in therapy or support programs for additional treatment benefits
- Watching for side effects and reporting any concerns to your healthcare provider
- Avoiding alcohol and drug use to prevent interactions with your medicine
What are some considerations when choosing a long-acting injectable antipsychotic for schizophrenia?
While LAIs offer significant advantages, there are some factors to keep in mind to ensure you select the right formation, including:
- Dose adjustment timeline – Unlike oral medications, LAI dose changes may require weeks to take full effect
- Injection site reactions – Some patients may experience discomfort or irritation at the injection site
- Travel needs for administration – Regular clinic visits may be necessary for injections, depending on the specific formulation
What other services does Oakwood Labs offer?
We are proud to offer a wide range of services in the development and manufacturing of sustained release parental products. Our services include:
Contact Oakwood Labs Today
Have questions regarding long-acting injectable antipsychotics? Our team is here to assist you. Please reach out to a team member today for more information.
At Oakwood Labs, we’re dedicated to providing alternative solutions to drug delivery and development. This includes our ongoing work creating long-acting injectables for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension.
For those interested in learning more about the specific strides we’ve made within this sector, as well as the opportunity to partner with us, read on or contact our team today.
Then and Now: A Brief History of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Drug Development
The introduction of Epoprostenol in 1995 marked the first true breakthrough in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatment, as this medication was able to show the potential to target the prostacyclin pathway. Following this development, individuals began further research into other potential treatment options to help patients suffering from PAH.
It was not until 2001 that the first oral therapy, Bosentan, was approved and released to the public. Since then, 12 additional medications have been approved by the FDA to treat PAH, such as soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators, endothelin receptor blockers (ERBs), and phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, to name a few.
Additionally, there are a few current trends in the advancement of pulmonary arterial hypertension pharmaceutical development, including those focused on:
- Combination therapies
- Targeted therapies
- Delivery methods
About Our Work Creating Long-Acting Injectables for Treating Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
The team at Oakwood Labs has used its advanced technology to create injectables for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension. Though most of the formulations that are currently on the market for PAH treatment are mainly oral medications, the use of LAIs can come with several advantages, such as a decrease in the amount of drug administered to the patient, less frequent doses, and more.
Partner with Oakwood Labs
In order to further develop our cardiology program, Oakwood Labs is looking for an external partner to fulfill the responsibilities of the role. This includes managing phases 1–3 of clinical trials, funding development activities, and helping with ongoing commercialization and registration efforts.
For more information on the details of the position, please reach out to our team directly, as we would be happy to supply you with additional information about the development work to date, market opportunity, and estimated financial projections.
FAQs About Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension LAI Development
What are the major benefits of an LAI in cardiovascular treatments?
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, progressive disease that causes high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and increased heartbeat.
LAI treatments in this area focus on vasodilators and platelet aggregation inhibitors. They work by relaxing blood vessels, including those in the lungs, and improving blood flow.
What are the current barriers to an LAI entering this particular space?
The barriers to entry for the LAI space are very high. You need to have a proven technology capable of delivering the right amount of the drug within a given therapeutic window. Plus, you need an FDA-approved GMP facility to manufacture the product, as well as a high level of expertise to understand, develop, and validate the process.
Oakwood Labs has all of these capabilities and over 25 years of experience within this field.
What sets Oakwood Labs apart from others in the development of LAIs to treat PAH and other cardiovascular issues?
Our team of experts has used its technology to develop formulations focused on treating pulmonary arterial hypertension with a release duration of one month. Current treatments, which mostly focus on oral medications, work in different ways but ultimately attempt to decrease symptom severity and increase exercise capacity.
The use of an LAI product would offer benefits similar to other therapeutic areas including reduction in the total amount of drug administered to the patient, as well as less frequent doses.
Reach Out to Us
If you have any additional questions about our continued work in pulmonary arterial hypertension drug development, or if you’re looking to partner with us, please contact us today.
Oakwood Labs is excited to participate in DCAT Week 2025, the premier global event held annually in New York City for companies engaged in the bio/pharmaceutical industry. This year’s DCAT Week is being held March 17–20, 2025.
Our team will be available on-site for business meetings. Please reach out today to book a meeting slot.
Oakwood Labs, Your Leading Sustained-Release Drug Manufacturer
Oakwood Labs is an experienced global CDMO partner that specializes in the development and manufacture of sustained-release injectable products. We use Chroniject™, which is a polymer microsphere-based drug delivery platform that offers various solutions such as:
- Compatibility with various molecule types
- Flexible release durations
- Applications in various therapeutic indications
With over 25 years of experience supplying sustained-release injectables, we’re dedicated to providing the best global pharmaceutical products.
Discover More About DCAT Week 2025
If you have any questions regarding DCAT Week 2025 or our capabilities at Oakwood Labs, feel free to contact us today.
The team at Oakwood Labs has made it our mission to develop long-acting injectables to treat various diseases and disorders. This includes ongoing work with drugs to treat acromegaly and carcinoid tumors, both rare diseases that affect millions of people globally. Read on to learn more about the strides we’ve taken within endocrinology, and the broader healthcare sector.
The History of Acromegaly and Carcinoid Tumor Drug Development
Though carcinoid syndrome was first described by Thorson and colleagues in 1954, Pierre Marie discovered acromegaly years prior in 1886. At these times, there were no acromegaly and carcinoid tumor pharmaceuticals to reduce the size of malignant or benign growths, so surgical removal of a tumor was incredibly common.
Then, in the 1970s, dopamine agonists, such as bromocriptine and cabergoline, were introduced as treatment options to control tumor growth for acromegaly and carcinoid syndrome. However, the treatment came with a range of side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, and constipation, to name a few, so they are not used as standalone options for treatment today.
The Current State of These Pharmaceuticals
Numerous strides have been made within the healthcare sector since the early stages of acromegaly and carcinoid tumor drug development. For example, as of June 2020, the FDA has approved oral octreotide capsules as one of the first long-term maintenance treatments for acromegaly. This alternative is a viable solution for individuals who have responded to and tolerated treatment with injectable SRLs.
Along with more recent trials and discoveries, several targeted drugs are used to treat these diseases and manage their symptoms, with Sandostatin being one of the most common. These synthetic acromegaly and carcinoid pharmaceuticals are designed to mimic the body’s natural hormone, somatostatin, which, in turn, prevents the body from producing too many growth hormones and serotonin.
What Oakwood Labs Is Developing Internally for Acromegaly and Carcinoid Tumor Treatment
Oakwood Labs has successfully manufactured and scaled up formulations focused on treating acromegaly and carcinoid tumors. The daily injections initially used for these conditions have been largely replaced by Sandostatin LAR, a one-month LAI product. Plus, our two-month formulations further reduce the number of injections and office visits patients experience by 50%, which can also help with enhancing patient compliance.
Additionally, Oakwood Labs currently has two endocrinology programs that are focused on creating pharmaceuticals to treat acromegaly and carcinoid tumors. Project Treestar is designed to specifically treat acromegaly and cancer-related nausea, while Project Lunar is looking to help those with type 2 diabetes.
Partnership Opportunities
Oakwood Labs is seeking an external partner to help further develop our endocrinology program. Just some of the key responsibilities include:
- Funding the ongoing development activities
- Overseeing phase 1-3 of clinical trials
- Contributing to registration and commercialization efforts
If you’re interested in pursuing this opportunity, please reach out to our team directly for more information. We would be happy to supply the partner with additional information about the market opportunity, estimated financial projections, and development work to date.
FAQs About LAIs for Acromegaly and Carcinoid Tumor Treatment
What are the major benefits of an LAI in treatments for acromegaly, carcinoid tumors, and more?
When developing drugs for treating acromegaly and carcinoid tumors, know that long-acting injectables are effective for blocking the production of excess blood levels of growth hormone (GF) and reducing the insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels in acromegaly patients. This is helpful for individuals who cannot be treated with other methods, such as surgical intervention.
Sandostatin acts as a somatostatin analogue, mimicking a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate hormone release from the tumor cells. This aids in the treatment of carcinoid tumors.
What are the current barriers to an LAI entering this particular space?
The barriers to entry for the LAI space are very high. You need to have a proven technology capable of delivering the right amount of the drug within a given therapeutic window. You also need an FDA-approved GMP facility to manufacture the product. Finally, you need a high level of expertise to understand, develop, and validate the process.
Oakwood has all these capabilities, along with over 25 years of expertise within the field.
Contact Our Team of Experts Today
If you have any questions regarding the process of developing pharmaceuticals for treating acromegaly and carcinoid tumors, or our work in the endocrinology space, please reach out to our team of experts today. And if you’re looking for a position within our partnership program, contact us directly, as we look forward to hearing from you.