Schizophrenia is a severe condition treated primarily with dopamine-modulating antipsychotics, which mainly address positive symptoms but often fail to manage negative and cognitive symptoms. Challenges include non-adherence and adverse effects like cardiometabolic issues. Emerging treatments such as cannabidiol, lumateperone, and TAAR1 agonists target total symptoms, while roluperidone and pimavanserin focus on negative symptoms. Cognitive dysfunction is addressed by glycine transporter-1 inhibitors. New long-acting injectables like Aripiprazole Lauroxil NanoCrystal and subcutaneous Risperidone ISM help maintain therapeutic levels without oral supplementation.

However, many new therapies are still in trial phases with mixed results, making effective management of schizophrenia challenging. There is a critical need for drugs that address both positive and negative symptoms with fewer side effects. Improved formulations, such as long-acting injectables, and new pharmacological approaches for treatment-resistant cases are essential. Continued research into the complex pathophysiology of schizophrenia is vital for developing innovative and effective treatments.

Reference: Krogmann A, Peters L, von Hardenberg L, Bödeker K, Nöhles VB, Correll CU. Keeping up with the therapeutic advances in schizophrenia: a review of novel and emerging pharmacological entities. CNS Spectr. 2019;24(S1):38-69. doi: 10.1017/S109285291900124X.