A new era for schizophrenia drug development – Lessons for the future
Kiri Granger, Michael Sand, Sheryl Caswell, Lorena R. Lizarraga‐Valderrama, Jennifer H. Barnett, Paula M. Moran
Abstract
For many patients and their treating clinicians, the pharmacological management of psychotic symptoms centres on trying to find a regime that balances efficacy and quality of life-impairing side effects associated with dopamine antagonism. Recent reports of a positive Phase III study from Karuna Therapeutics indicate that the first primarily non-dopamine-based treatment for schizophrenia may come to market soon with the potential for substantially reduced or differentiated side effects. Against a background of repeated failures, Karuna's success promises a desperately needed new treatment option for patients. It also reflects some hard-won lessons about the methodology for schizophrenia drug development.