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Experimental drugs for bipolar psychosis
Michele Fornaro1, António E Nardi2, Domenico De Berardis3
1a New York State Psychiatric Institute (NYSPI) , Columbia University , New York , NY , USA.
Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
|November 5, 2016
Summary
Developing new treatments for bipolar disorder (BD) psychosis is crucial due to limited options. Research is exploring novel drug targets, like the kynurenic acid pathway, for better efficacy and tolerability.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Psychotic features frequently occur in bipolar disorder (BD), particularly during acute mania.
- Current treatments for bipolar psychosis have limited efficacy and tolerability, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Systematic characterization of potential drug targets for experimental treatments in bipolar psychosis is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review potential drug targets for novel experimental treatments in bipolar psychosis.
- To highlight the kynurenic acid pathway as a potential therapeutic avenue.
- To emphasize the need for safer lithium alternatives in bipolar psychosis models.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on bipolar disorder psychosis treatments.
- Exploration of neurobiological pathways implicated in psychosis.
- Analysis of unmet needs in current therapeutic approaches.
Main Results:
- The kynurenic acid pathway presents a promising target for novel drug development in bipolar psychosis.
- Development of experimental drugs requires addressing unmet needs in metabolic and cognitive tolerability.
- Safer alternatives to lithium warrant investigation in preclinical models.
Conclusions:
- Novel experimental drugs for bipolar psychosis should prioritize improved metabolic and cognitive profiles.
- The ultimate goal is to alleviate the burden of acute psychotic mania and bipolar disorder.
- Further research into pathways like kynurenic acid is essential for advancing treatment options.