FDA approves privately developed schizophrenia drug, winning free market

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a novel antipsychotic drug for schizophrenia late Thursday, marking the first new treatment for the afflicted mental illness in decades 1.8 percent of the adult US population.

It's a major victory for market-driven drug development. Chris Boerner, chairman and CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) – the biopharmaceutical company that developed the drug –called The FDA's decision is a “groundbreaking approval” and “an approval that has the potential to change the treatment paradigm.”

Previously, antipsychotics that combat symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions worked by blocking access to dopamine receptors, the study found The New York Times. However, this mechanism contributed to common side effects such as weight gain, social withdrawal, cognitive impairment, and lack of motivation.

Cobenfy, the newly approved drug, indirectly affects dopamine levels. Unlike the standard approach where other schizophrenia medications target dopamine receptors, Cobenfy targets the cholinergic receptors. The hope is that the new drug can have a similar effect on hallucinations and delusions as medications currently on the market while reducing side effects.

Gordon Lavigne, CEO of the nonprofit advocacy group Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance, said Reason that the personal and social impact of Cobenfy is “difficult to measure” but that there is “reasonable reason to assume that someone will be more able to participate in daily life, be social and be part of the fabric of.” to be.” [their] Family.”

The cost of Cobenfy is expected to be in line with most other antipsychotics on the market. BMS Chief Commercialization Officer Adam Lenkowsky said Just that the wholesale cost would be $1,850 per month.

This is another victory for the free market in healthcare over government-funded research. Since 2002, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has committed more than $20 billion to research into the neuroscience and genetics of diseases such as schizophrenia. Nevertheless, there has actually been little benefit for patients – not even themselves Permit the person who oversaw the explosion in funding. “I should have been able to help us overcome the hurdles of death and disability.” said Thomas Insel, who led the NIMH for 13 years. “But I didn’t.”

He is not alone. “As a schizophrenia researcher, I am embarrassed to say that we have spent literally billions of American taxpayer dollars on genetics, l.”“We are trying to understand what causes schizophrenia and help us develop new drugs for schizophrenia, but we have not been successful,” said Mark Weiser, head of the psychiatry department at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv Just.