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Karxt: A Novel Investigational Drug for Treatment of Schizophrenia

Hannah Aliyamma Alex, Akhila T Babu, Naina Sara Sabu

Abstract


Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic disorder syndrome that significantly impacts daily function and quality of life. KarXT, an oral investigational drug, targets M1/M4 muscarinic receptors and is under development to treat various psychiatric and neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s-related psychosis. Distinguished by its novel dual mechanism, KarXT offers a potential breakthrough in treating severe mental illnesses without relying on the traditional dopaminergic or serotonergic pathways. The FDA has acknowledged KarXTs New Drug Application for schizophrenia treatment in adults, giving a promising avenue for differentiated therapy that could positively impact millions of individuals with serious mental illnesses. While KarXT has shown promising efficacy and safety as a new experimental antipsychotic, its application in bipolar disorder patients remains relatively unexplored. This review of the literature summarizes novel pharmacologic agent KarXT, their proposed mechanism of action and required further real-world evaluation.


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References


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https://karunatx.com/pipeline-programs/karxt/

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04659174?term=karXT%20%2B%20schizophrenia&aggFilters=phase:3&rank=3&tab=table


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