By Sneha S K

April 6 (Reuters) - Bristol Myers Squibb ( BMY ) said on

Saturday data from late-stage studies of its experimental

schizophrenia drug showed it helped reduce symptoms of the

disorder without the common side effect of weight gain tied to

other antipsychotics.

The drugmaker gained access to the treatment, called KarXT,

through its $14 billion deal to buy Karuna Therapeutics last

year. Long-term data of the drug reinforced the findings that

were seen in previous short-term studies, the company said.

In a one-year follow-up, the drug helped curb symptoms such

as delusions and reduced speech by more than or equal to 30%, as

seen on a disease measurement scale, in over 75% of patients.

"Current antipsychotic treatments are associated with a

number of adverse effects, including adverse metabolic profiles,

increases in weight ... and there still remains a need for more

effective treatments," said Roland Chen, SVP, global drug

development for immunology, neuroscience and cardiovascular

development at Bristol Myers.

The data showed KarXT reduced weight on average by 2.56

kilograms at 52 weeks. Majority of the participants, 65.1%, saw

a reduction in weight over the course of the trial, with 17.6%

of them having a decrease in body weight of more than or equal

to 7%.

Across the trials, 14.9% of patients discontinued the study

due to treatment-related adverse events. The most common adverse

events were nausea and vomiting, the majority of which were mild

and transient in nature, the company said.

KarXT is expected to drive sales through late-2020s and into

the next decade, at a time when two of Bristol Myers' top drugs,

blood cancer treatment Revlimid and blood thinner Eliquis face

generic competition.