aripiprazole (Ablify)

Following a resubmission

aripiprazole oral formulations (Abilify) are not recommended within NHS Scotland for the treatment of moderate to severe manic episodes in bipolar I disorder and for the prevention of a new manic episode in patients who experienced predominantly manic episodes and whose manic episodes responded to aripiprazole treatment.

Aripiprazole demonstrated superior efficacy to placebo in reducing manic symptoms at week three and a treatment effect comparable to other agents used in the treatment of bipolar I disorder was maintained at week 12.

Aripiprazole also demonstrated superior efficacy to placebo in prevention of relapse. Aripiprazole has not been directly compared to other atypical antipsychotics in this indication, although there is only one other atypical antipsychotic licensed for prevention of new manic episodes.

The manufacturer did not present a sufficiently robust economic analysis to gain acceptance by SMC