Additional Relevant Details
CTP-692 is an investigational deuterium-modified form of D‑serine that offers an entirely new mechanism of action to potentially treat schizophrenia and more broadly address its symptoms than has been previously possible. The underlying rationale of the current antipsychotic therapies for schizophrenia is that excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission and dysfunctional D2 receptor signaling are believed to play key pathophysiological roles in the disease, and consequently all approved typical and atypical antipsychotics possess some level of D2 antagonist activity. However, deficient glutamatergic neurotransmission mediated by the NMDA receptor is believed to be another underlying cause of schizophrenia. It has been reported that individuals with schizophrenia have low plasma and cerebrospinal fluid levels of D-serine, a key molecule that activates NMDA receptors in areas of the brain that are widely believed to play key roles in schizophrenia. CTP-692 administration may help enhance NMDA neurotransmission, potentially more safely than using unmodified D-serine. CTP-692 is being initially developed as an adjunctive therapy with the potential to improve positive and negative symptoms as well as cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia.