The experimental psychotropic agent lurasidone appeared effective in acute schizophrenia, according to the first phase III data on the drug.
The intermediate 80-mg dose of the novel compound significantly improved total scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) by about eight points more than placebo over six weeks of treatment in the randomized controlled trial.
However, the 40- and 120-mg per day doses did not appear better than placebo for either the primary or secondary endpoints in the trial, Antony Loebel, Ph.D., of Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma America in Fort Lee, N.J., and colleagues found.
All doses appeared to be well tolerated with little impact on weight and lipids, they reported here at the American Psychiatric Association meeting.
Lurasidone is part of the pipeline of psychotropics that have been called the "me-too" medications. It has high affinity for dopamine (D2) and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.
But Dr. Loebel highlighted its uniqueness among psychotropics in affinity for serotonin receptors implicated in the enhancement of cognition, mood, and negative symptoms (5-HT7, 5-HT1A and alpha-2c).
READ MORE @ MEDPAGE TODAY
Showing posts with label Positive symptoms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Positive symptoms. Show all posts
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
A New Way Of Thinking For Schizophrenia Treatment
The effectiveness of psychiatric drugs varies considerably in individuals being treated for depression or schizophrenia. These drugs act on serotonin, a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) central to the regulation of moods. Scientists from Oxford and Belfast have discovered more about emotional processing and genetic variations that will help to inform treatment strategies.
The long-held view that serotonin levels are low in people with depression has been challenged by Philip Cowen, professor of psychopharmacology at Oxford University. "We asked what evidence is there that the action is abnormal and this stimulated new thinking about how anti-depressants work," he said at the British Neuroscience Association meeting in Liverpool today (21 April).
READ MORE @ MEDICAL NEWS TODAY
The long-held view that serotonin levels are low in people with depression has been challenged by Philip Cowen, professor of psychopharmacology at Oxford University. "We asked what evidence is there that the action is abnormal and this stimulated new thinking about how anti-depressants work," he said at the British Neuroscience Association meeting in Liverpool today (21 April).
READ MORE @ MEDICAL NEWS TODAY
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