Lurasidone: a novel antipsychotic agent for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar depression

Lurasidone is a novel antipsychotic agent approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in a number of countries including the UK, and is also approved in the USA and Canada for the treatment of major depressive episodes associated with bipolar I disorder as either a monotherapy or adjunctive therapy with lithium or valproate. In addition to full antagonist activity at dopamine D-2 (K-i(D2) = 1 nM) and serotonin 5-HT(2)A (K-i(5 HT2A) = 0.5 nM) receptors, the pharmacodynamic profile of lurasidone is notable for its high affinity for serotonin 5-HT7 receptors (Ki(5-HT 7) = 0.5 nM) and its partial agonist activity at 5-HT(1)A receptors (Ki(5-HT1A) = 6.4 nM). Long-term treatment of schizophrenia with lurasidone has been shown to reduce the risk of relapse. Lurasidone appears associated with minimal effects on body weight and low risk for clinically meaningful alterations in glucose, lipids or electrocardiogram parameters.