title: Comparable efficacy and safety of 8 weeks treatment with agomelatine 25-50mg or fluoxetine 20-40mg in Asian out-patients with major depressive disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This randomized, double-blind study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of agomelatine, using fluoxetine as an active comparator, in Asian patients suffering from moderate to severe major depressive disorder (MDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly assigned to receive either agomelatine (25-50mg/day, n=314) or fluoxetine (20-40mg/day, n=314) during an 8-week treatment period. The main outcome measure was the change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17 items (HAM-D17) scores. Secondary efficacy criteria included scores on Clinical Global Impression Severity of illness (CGI-S) and Improvement of illness (CGI-I), patient sleeping improvement using the self-rating Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ) and anxiety using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) scores. Tolerability and safety evaluations were based on emergent adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Agomelatine and fluoxetine exert a comparable antidepressant efficacy in the Asian population. Mean changes over 8 weeks were clinically relevant and similar in both groups (-14.8±7.3 and -15.0±8.1 on HAM-D17 scale in agomelatine and fluoxetine groups, respectively). The between-group difference reached statistical significance on non-inferiority test (p=0.015). Clinically relevant decreases in CGI-S and CGI-I scores were observed over the treatment period in both groups. The two treatments were equally effective on the symptoms of both anxiety and sleep. The good tolerability profile and safety of both doses of agomelatine was confirmed in the Asian population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Agomelatine and fluoxetine are equally effective in the treatment of MDD-associated symptoms in Asian depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: The Sixth Hospital of Peking, Institute of Mental Health, Peking University, No. 51 Hua Yuan Bei Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China. Electronic address: shu-liang@126.com.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: University Malaya Medical Centre, Department of Psychological Medicine, Jalan University, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 199, Tung-Hwa North Road, 105 Tapei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Gleneagles Medical Centre, Department of Psychiatry, #4-11, 6 Napier Road, 258499, Singapore.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fones Soon Leng
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherches Internationales Servier (IRIS), 50 Rue Carnot, 92284 Suresnes Cedex, France.
authors.forename: V Strijckmans
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Crutel
authors.affiliation: Seoul National University, Department of Psychiatry, 28 Yongon-Dong, Chongno-Gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D009281:Naphthalenes
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes
keywords: Agomelatine; Antidepressant; Asian population; Fluoxetine