(Could serve as a reminder not to hang TOO much hope on Lumateperone by Intracellular Therapies.)
11/12/2012
Roche and Chugai Pharmaceuticals have created a new drug that treats the Negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The negative symptoms are inexpressive face, avolition (lack of motivation), and alogia (lack or decline in speech).
To my understanding schizophrenia drugs up until now have only treated the problem of excess dopamine which seemingly is the cause for hallucinations and delusions (Positive symptoms).
But Roche’s new drug Bitopertin is different in that it treats the deficiency of glutamate which researchers are beginning to believe is a cause for negative symptoms.
Negative symptoms are thought to contribute moreso to quality of life issues for those with schizophrenia.
I’ve been following this drug for a year and a half and am excited that it now has a name. It’s currently in Phase III trials and is scheduled to be filed in 2014.
Still not all drugs that make it this far end up on the market. It still has to have effective Phase III trial results and win FDA approval.
However I’m focusing a lot of my hopes on this drug. Negative symptoms effect me pervasively and persistantly. They are the biggest road blocks in my life to holding down a job and living independantly.
It may be possible for me to participate in the study. However the closest location is on Long Island. And I’m not sure yet how often I would have to report there. Eitherway that’s a long trek to receive a pill that might be a placebo.