We know that, Cariprazine (trade name Vraylar, previously known as RGH-188) is an antipsychotic drug developed by Gedeon Richter. It acts as a D2 and D3 receptor partial agonist, with high selectivity towards the D3 receptor. Positive Phase III study results were published for schizophrenia and mania early 2012, while Phase II studies in bipolar disorder I, and for bipolar depression are in progress. Action on the dopaminergic systems makes it also potentially useful as an add-on therapy in major depressive disorder
Rights are currently owned by Gedeon Richter and Actavis. The drug received FDA approval on September 17, 2015.
Now The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Vraylar (cariprazine) capsules to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in adults.
"Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be disabling and can greatly interfere with day-to-day activities," said Mitchell Mathis, M.D., director of the Division of Psychiatry Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "It is important to have a variety of treatment options available to patients with mental illnesses so that treatment plans can be tailored to meet a patient's individual needs."
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe and disabling brain disorder affecting about one percent of Americans. Typically, symptoms are first seen in adults younger than 30 years of age and include hearing voices or seeing things that are not there, believing other people are reading their minds or controlling their thoughts, and being suspicious or withdrawn.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is another brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. The symptoms of bipolar disorder include alternating periods of depression and high, irritable mood, increased activity and restlessness, racing thoughts, talking fast, impulsive behavior and a decreased need for sleep.
The efficacy of Vraylar in treating schizophrenia was demonstrated in 1,754 participants in three six-week clinical trials. In each of the trials, Vraylar was shown to reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia compared to placebo.
The efficacy of Vraylar in treating bipolar disorder was shown in three three-week clinical trials of 1,037 participants. Vraylar was shown to reduce symptoms of bipolar disorder in each of the trials.
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