Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia | Decision Base | US | 2014
What Clinical Attributes Will Be Most Persuasive for Psychiatrists and Payers Regarding the First Novel Drugs in this Highly Underserved Arena?
Decision Resources Group forecasts the number of diagnosed prevalent cases of schizophrenia with comorbid cognitive impairment to exceed 4 million in the seven major pharmaceutical markets in 2022. Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS)—which may include deficits in attention, working memory, and executive function—has a negative impact on patients’ quality of life and ability to function. Although cognitive symptoms in schizophrenia are well characterized, no formal diagnostic criteria exist. Furthermore, no pharmacological agents are approved to treat the condition, and no marketed therapy tested to date has established clear, meaningful efficacy, which underscores the difficulty of drug development in this arena and accentuates the unmet need for proven treatment options. Significant commercial opportunity awaits future innovative therapies that can improve cognition and functional capacity in schizophrenia patients as adjunctive therapy to antipsychotic medication.
