Abstract
Cariprazine is a new D2/D3 partial agonist with preferential affinity to D3 receptors. It has been registered for treatment of adult patients with schizophrenia.
In short-term randomized controlled trials cariprazine demonstrated efficacy in acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. Moreover, cariprazine proved efficacy in a long-term treatment of schizophrenia with significantly longer time to relapse compared to placebo.
Cariprazine significantly outperformed risperidone in reduction of predominant negative symptoms ofschizophrenia in a six-month trial. Both short-term and long-term tolerability of cariprazine was very good, majority of side effects were mild or moderate.
The most frequently reported were akathisia and EPS. No increase in plasma prolactin concentrations was observed during one-year exposure to cariprazine, cariprazine was not associated with negative changes in metabolic parameters and the mean change in body weight was low.
Cariprazine is an effective antipsychotic drug, well tolerated, with good overall efficacy and evidence for treatment of predominant negative symptoms.