Lumateperone in the Treatment of Schizophrenia: A Review

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness that afflicts about 1% of the world’s population. This illness distorts a person’s perception of reality and consists of positive symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions, negative symptoms such as inattention and withdrawal, and cognitive deficits. Antipsychotic drugs are primarily used for the pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia. In this article, we provide a succinct review of a recently approved novel antipsychotic, lumateperone. We present an overview and history of schizophrenia, its symptoms, epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology. The classification of antipsychotic agents as first and second-generation based on their receptor affinity is discussed. The review focuses on describing the background, development, receptor pharmacology, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, adverse effects, therapeutic uses, and future prospects of lumateperone.