Assessment of Innovative Pharmacological Targets in Schizophrenia

Abstract

Purpose of review Schizophrenia is a disorder with an approximate prevalence of 1% associated with great impairments in daily life functioning and important distress. The pharmacological treatments available thus far address, almost exclusively, the positive symptoms of the disorder, leaving cognitive and negative symptoms without an effective treatment. Additionally, a significant group of patients presents treatment-resistant forms of the disorder, and the schizophrenia drug pipeline has been stagnant. This review examines the existing evidence on potential novel drug targets for the disorder. Recent findings Several systems have been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and several agents addressing disturbances in those systems have been tested in recent years. Summary We summarize significant findings on the multiple systems disrupted in schizophrenia (e.g. neurotransmitters, hormones, inflammation-related, intracellular mechanisms) and discuss potential strategies to target those disturbances. We review some new drugs developed for and tested in the patients/models of the disorder.