New Antipsychotic in Clinical Study Specifically Treats Negative and Cognitive Symptoms

http://www.genengnews.com/industry-updates/cyrenaic-pharmaceuticals-reports-improvement-of-negative-symptoms-and-cognition-in-schizophrenia/102268925/


"PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cyrenaic Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Cyrenaic”), a private drug development company focused on the treatment of CNS disorders, today announced Phase IIa clinical results for CYR-101, its novel investigational drug for the treatment of schizophrenia. The results from the study showed that the drug alleviated the symptoms of the disease, including the negative and cognitive symptoms.

“These results confirm the promising efficacy signal that was observed in relevant animal models and open the door to treatment alternatives not only in schizophrenia but also in a number of other debilitating neurological and psychiatric diseases, suggesting a large spectrum of additional potential indications for CYR-101”
Schizophrenia affects approximately 1% of the general population and is characterized by three major symptom classes: positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions; negative symptoms, such as apathy and emotional flattening; and cognitive symptoms, including impaired memory and attention deficit. Most patients experience some degree of cognitive symptoms during the course of their disease, even during the prodromal phase. Furthermore, if left untreated negative symptoms often lead to poor patient compliance with existing medications and poor control of disease burden.

Whilst existing medications primarily target positive symptoms but have no direct efficacy on other symptoms of this disease, there are currently no approved treatments for the specific treatment of negative or cognitive symptoms. A treatment for these symptoms therefore remains a major unmet medical need in schizophrenia. Despite these shortcomings, the global market for existing antipsychotics was estimated at $16 billion in 2008.

Commenting on the Phase IIa study results, Geoff Race, Strategic Advisor to Cyrenaic, said: “We are very encouraged by the results of this study. We believe CYR-101 has the potential to deal with the important aspects of schizophrenia, including those symptoms currently not managed by existing therapies.

About CYR-101
CYR-101 is a small molecule New Molecular Entity with a novel mechanism of action that was in-licensed from a leading Japanese pharmaceutical firm. It shows potent antagonistic effects at 5-HT2A and sigma-2 receptors in vivo and in vitro and is devoid of direct modulatory activity on dopamine transmission.

About schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling mental disorder affecting 2.4 million Americans (approx. 1.1% of the U.S adult population) and approximately 5 million people globally. While there is no cure for the disease, correct medication and treatment is able to keep the disorder in check. According to Datamonitor, the global schizophrenia market was valued at US$16 billion in 2008. The symptoms of schizophrenia are broadly categorized as positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. Positive symptoms are psychotic behaviors not seen in healthy people, such as hallucinations and delusions. Negative symptoms are associated with disruption to normal behavior and emotion, such as a lack of ability to sustain planned activity or a lack of pleasure in everyday life. Cognitive symptoms include problems with working memory and trouble focusing or paying attention."