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In what's seen as a major step forward for the treatment of schizophrenia, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised a new Johnson & Johnson drug in Britain. Byannli is a six-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP6M) and is the first long-acting injectable schizophrenia treatment which offers patients the potential for up to six months of symptom control and a reduction in their risk of relapse with only two doses a year. It is a long-acting injectable that works by dissolving and entering the bloodstream slowly, due to its extremely low water solubility, resulting in continuous absorption of paliperidone palmitate over a six-month period. "Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe brain disorder, and antipsychotic medication plays an important role in its treatment. However, many people with the illness experience relapses which are often caused by poor adherence to oral medication," said Prof David Taylor, director of Pharmacy and Pathology at the Maudsley Hospital.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has reminded healthcare professionals prescribing aripiprazole to alert patients about its possible side effects, following a rise in the number of reports of gambling disorder associated with the drug. Patients taking aripiprazole, which is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are at risk of developing unusual urges or cravings that they cannot resist, including behaviours such as addictive gambling, excessive eating or spending, or an abnormally high sex drive. The regulator has received 69 reports of gambling or gambling disorder suspected to be caused by aripiprazole in the last 14 years via the Yellow Card Scheme, out of which 32 were received between 1 January and 31 August this year. Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said: "The number of reports for suspected gambling and other impulsive behaviours associated with aripiprazole are small in comparison to the frequency with which it is prescribed, but the consequences for any patient developing these conditions can be significant."

Otsuka and Lundbeck has received approval from Health Canada to use its intramuscular (IM) once-monthly injectable formulation 'Abilify Maintena' for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia in stabilized adult patients.

Adding to the growing evidence of global medicine shortages, a new study has revealed that the European generic medicines market is "not in shape" to help Europe meet its public health priorities. In the past decade, the rate of generic medicines withdrawals has risen by 12 per cent, while there has been a three per cent decrease in the launch of generic products, as per Teva Pharmaceuticals' recent analysis of IQVIA data. Within the mental therapeutic area, seven per cent of generic products disappeared between 2013 and 2023, while there was a seven per cent decrease in the availability of generic cancer medicines in just six years (2017-2022). These medicines were listed on the Union List of Critical Medicines to help avoid potential shortages, as the European Commission (EC) said this could cause "significant harm to patients and pose important challenges to health systems." While mature generic products constitute the majority of the List, they remain susceptible to withdrawals, despite containing products crucial for safeguarding Europe's public health, the Teva analysis report noted. Since 2013, the number of generic products for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder has declined by 25 per cent, with Hungary and Bulgaria experiencing the biggest loss at 83 per cent and 58 per cent respectively.