Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ASENAPINE MALEATE versus SAPHRIS.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: ASENAPINE MALEATE versus SAPHRIS.
ASENAPINE MALEATE vs SAPHRIS
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Asenapine is an atypical antipsychotic with high affinity for serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT1A, and dopamine D2 receptors. It also antagonizes alpha1/alpha2-adrenergic and histamine H1 receptors, with moderate affinity for D3 and D4 receptors. The therapeutic effect in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is primarily mediated through combined 5-HT2A and D2 receptor antagonism.
Asenapine is an atypical antipsychotic with high affinity for serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT6, and 5-HT7 receptors; dopamine D2, D3, and D4 receptors; and alpha2-adrenergic receptors. It also has moderate affinity for histamine H1 and alpha1-adrenergic receptors, and low affinity for muscarinic M1 receptors.
Sublingual: 5-10 mg twice daily; initial dose 5 mg twice daily, max 10 mg twice daily.
5 mg sublingually twice daily, may increase to 10 mg twice daily based on tolerability and efficacy.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 24 hours. Steady-state is achieved within 3 days. The half-life allows for twice-daily dosing.
Terminal elimination half-life is 30-40 hours, supporting once-daily dosing.
Approximately 50% of the dose is excreted renally, and 40% fecally. After oral administration, about 50% appears in urine (as unchanged drug and metabolites) and 40% in feces.
After oral administration, approximately 50% of the dose is excreted in urine (mostly as metabolites, <1% unchanged) and 40% in feces (mostly as metabolites).
Category A/B
Category C
Atypical Antipsychotic
Atypical Antipsychotic