Novel Compound Improves Negative Schizophrenia Symptoms
A drug under development demonstrated statistically significant efficacy in reducing negative symptoms as well as good tolerability in patients with schizophrenia, according to a double-blind study published online in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
MIN-101 is a compound with affinities for sigma-2 and 5-HT2A receptors but no direct dopamine affinities, explained researchers, who disclosed financial ties to MIN-101 developer Minerva Neurosciences, according to a Psychiatric News report.
The phase 2b trial included 244 patients with schizophrenia who had been symptomatically stable for at least 3 months. After at least 5 days’ withdrawal from antipsychotic medications, participants were randomly assigned to receive MIN-101 (32 mg/day or 64 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks.
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At the study’s end, researchers identified a statistically significant improvement in negative factor scores on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for participants receiving MIN-101, compared with participants receiving placebo.
Moreover, no significant changes were observed in positive symptom scores, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale scores, vital signs, routine laboratory values, weight, or metabolic indices, according to the study.
“A relevant clinical question is whether the improvement in negative symptoms reported here is specific and clinically meaningful,” Psychiatric News quoted from the study. “Indeed, it is possible that MIN-101 has a beneficial effect on mood. However, the effect on negative symptoms was maintained after controlling for depression, which suggests the effect was not synonymous with improvement in mood.”
—Jolynn Tumolo
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