J&J seeking to enlarge paliperidone franchise

US health care major Johnson & Johnson has submitted two supplemental New Drug Applications to the Food and Drug Administration requesting  approval for Invega (paliperidone) tablets for the treatment of  schizoaffective disorder.

The condition, which encompasses the symptoms of schizophrenia and a  major mood disorder, is about one third as common as schizophrenia, for  which paliperidone ER is an approved treatment.

Earlier this week, the company also submitted its response to the FDA's  queries on the New Drug Application for paliperidone palmitate, which it  received last year (Marketletter September 1, 2008). The  investigational once-monthly atypical antipsychotic injection will be  indicated for the acute and maintenance treatment of schizophrenia if  approved. J&J hopes its paliperidone franchise will help replace  revenues lost when its blockbuster antipsychotic Riserpdal  (risperidone) lost patent protection last year.