New drug for schizophrenia: Cobenfy

• The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug, KarXT or Cobenfy, for schizophrenia manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb Company.

About Schizophrenia:

• What is it: A long-term brain disorder.
• Symptoms: Disorganized speech, trouble thinking and lack of motivation etc.
• Problems: It causes persistent delusions and hallucinations and adversely affects the ability of patients to understand reality.
• Treatment: Although there is no cure for this disease, treatment is available through antipsychotic drugs.

How do antipsychotic drugs work:

• Antipsychotic drugs can reduce the symptoms of the disease as well as prevent future problems.
  • These drugs block dopamine receptors extensively throughout the brain and potentially reduce symptoms of schizophrenia.
• Side effects: Greater tendency to negatively affect weight gain and other movement skills such as physical coordination, balance and walking.
  • Increased risk of mortality in elderly patients.

About KarXT or Cobenfy:

• It targets dopamine levels in the brain by controlling acetylcholine levels.
• Actually acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in memory, learning, attention, arousal and involuntary muscle movement.
• Benefits: It does not include common side effects found in other drugs such as weight gain and movement disorders.
  • Also, it does not include any warning about increased risk of mortality in some elderly patients unlike other drugs commonly used for schizophrenia.