Bukwang Pharmaceutical: "Latuda Proven to Reduce Weight and Improve Depressive Symptoms"

Study Approved for Publication in International Scientific Journal

Bukwang Pharmaceutical announced on October 1, 2026, that research data evaluating weight change, improvement in depressive symptoms, and safety when switching patients with bipolar disorder from existing antipsychotics to lurasidone (product name Latuda Tablet) has been accepted for publication in an international scientific journal.

This study was conducted at 12 psychiatric clinics in Korea and targeted 155 adult patients with bipolar disorder who had experienced weight gain while taking existing antipsychotics—aripiprazole, quetiapine, or olanzapine—for more than eight weeks before switching to lurasidone.

The exterior view of Bukwang Pharmaceutical headquarters in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Bukwang Pharmaceutical

The primary endpoint of the study, the mean body weight at 16 weeks, decreased from 74.49 kg before switching to lurasidone to 72.43 kg after the switch. The average change was -2.06 kg, which was statistically significant. In 25.8% of all patients, a weight loss of more than 5% compared to baseline was observed.

Bukwang Pharmaceutical particularly noted that 83.2% of all patients switched from aripiprazole, which is generally known to have a relatively low metabolic burden. This suggests that the observed weight loss was not only due to switching from drugs with a higher metabolic burden, such as olanzapine or quetiapine.

Patients who experienced weight gain while on previous antipsychotics and subsequently switched to lurasidone did not show worsening of psychiatric symptoms during the 16-week observation period. Depressive symptoms improved significantly, with scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), a representative tool for assessing depression, decreasing by 5.36 points at 16 weeks compared to pre-treatment.

No serious adverse events or treatment discontinuations due to adverse events were reported during the study period.

The company explained that, based on this study, switching to lurasidone could be a useful treatment strategy in real clinical settings for patients in Korea who experience weight gain and metabolic side effects from antipsychotic medications, achieving both weight reduction and management of depressive symptoms.

A Bukwang Pharmaceutical official said, "We will continue to provide academic evidence and support research that can help medical professionals make optimal treatment decisions for patient symptom management in the field of psychiatry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.