FDA Approval of Cobenfy

Source: This post on FDA Approval of Cobenfy has been created based on the article “FDA approval for Cobenfy casts light on schizophrenia’s wickedness” published in The Hindu on 23rd October 2024.

Why in news?

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cobenfy, a new antipsychotic drug to treat schizophrenia.

About Cobenfy

1. About: Cobenfy is a newly FDA-approved medication for treating schizophrenia in adults. It is a combination of two drugs, xanomeline and trospium chloride.

2. How it works: It offers a unique approach by targeting muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M1 and M4) instead of the dopamine receptors targeted by traditional antipsychotics.

3. The medication has shown promising results in clinical trials, with significant improvements in schizophrenia symptoms.

4. Risks: It comes with its own set of risks, such as gastrointestinal issues, increased heart rate, and allergic reactions like angioedema.

5. It is not recommended for individuals with certain conditions, including narrow-angle glaucoma and moderate-to-severe liver or kidney impairment.

About Schizophrenia

1. About: Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental health disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is characterized by episodes of psychosis, where an individual experiences distorted perceptions of reality.

2. Symptoms: It typically appear in late adolescence and early adulthood. The disorder results in a 13–15-year reduction in life expectancy due to lifestyle factors and comorbidities, with a 5% suicide rate.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

1. Positive Symptoms (reality distortion): Delusions, Hallucinations and Formal thought disorder (disorganized speech)

2. Negative Symptoms (diminished functions): Apathy, Reduced emotional expression, Lack of motivation and decreased pleasure

3. Disorganization Symptoms: Disorganized thinking and behavior and Inappropriate emotional responses

4. Cognitive Impairments:  Impaired attention, memory, and judgment

Causes of Schizophrenia

1. Genetics play a crucial role with polygenic risk involving hundreds of genetic variants.

2. Environmental factors such as prenatal complications can interact with genetic predispositions to significantly increase the risk.

3. Neurodevelopmental origins also contribute to the disorder’s complexity.

Xanomeline and Trospium: Mechanism of Action

1. Xanomeline is a muscarinic receptor agonist that targets the parasympathetic nervous system showing promise in improving multiple schizophrenia symptoms.

2. Trospium works as an antimuscarinic agent to mitigate xanomeline’s adverse effects.

3. Cobenfy’s Side Effects and Cost: Common side effects include nausea, indigestion, hypertension, tachycardia and dizziness.

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