Opinion: NK3 receptor antagonists: the next generation of antipsychotics?

Although current antipsychotic drugs are effective at treating the psychotic (positive) symptoms of schizophrenia, they have one or more serious side effects, including extrapyramidal symptoms, weight gain, cardiovascular liabilities and type II diabetes. However, recent data from clinical trials of selective neurokinin 3 (NK(3)) receptor antagonists in schizophrenia - osanetant and talnetant - have shown significant improvement in positive symptoms, with no major side-effects reported as yet. Here we discuss the preclinical and clinical evidence that indicates that NK(3) receptor antagonists might represent a new approach to the treatment of schizophrenia and possibly other neuropsychiatric disorders.