Advancements in Non-Dopaminergic Treatments for Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review of Pipeline Developments

Abstract

Introduction Conventional antipsychotic drugs that attenuate dopaminergic neural transmission are ineffective in approximately one-third of patients with schizophrenia. This necessitates the development of non-dopaminergic agents.

Methods A systematic search was conducted for completed phase II and III trials of compounds for schizophrenia treatment using the US Clinical Trials Registry and the EU Clinical Trials Register. Compounds demonstrating significant superiority over placebo in the primary outcome measure in the latest phase II and III trials were identified. Collateral information on the included compounds was gathered through manual searches in PubMed and press releases.

Results Sixteen compounds were identified; four compounds (ulotaront, xanomeline/trospium chloride, vabicaserin, and roluperidone) were investigated as monotherapy and the remaining 12 (pimavanserin, bitopertin, BI 425809, encenicline, tropisetron, pregnenolone, D-serine, estradiol, tolcapone, valacyclovir, cannabidiol, and rimonabant) were examined as add-on therapy. Compared to the placebo, ulotaront, xanomeline/trospium chloride, vabicaserin, bitopertin, estradiol, cannabidiol, rimonabant, and D-serine showed efficacy for positive symptoms; roluperidone and pimavanserin were effective for negative symptoms; and encenicline, tropisetron, pregnenolone, tolcapone, BI 425809, and valacyclovir improved cognitive function.

Discussion Compounds that function differently from existing antipsychotics may offer novel symptom-specific therapeutic strategies for patients with schizophrenia.

Keywords

antipsychotic. schizophrenia - pipeline - non-dopaminergic

^‡ These authors contributed equally to this work: Yuki Komatsu, Moe Takehara, Xenia Hart

Publication History

Received: 28 January 2024
Received: 30 March 2024

Accepted: 05 April 2024

Article published online:
06 May 2024

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