Reviva Pharmaceuticals Schizophrenia Drug Demonstrates Strong Efficacy On Heels Of Bristol Myers, FDA Approval: Analyst

Last week, the FDA approved Bristol Myers Squibb & Co’s (NYSE:BMY) Cobenfy (xanomeline and trospium chloride, KarXT), an oral medication for schizophrenia in adults.

Analysts at investment bank EF Hutton says, “This bodes well for Reviva’s Brilaroxazine, a multi-receptor-targeting antipsychotic that primarily focuses on serotonin (5-HT2A, 5-HT7), dopamine (D2, D3), and adrenergic receptors.”

Reviva Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:RVPH) pipeline currently includes two drug candidates, brilaroxazine (RP5063) and RP1208.

Last month, Reviva Pharmaceuticals released new vocal biomarker data from the Phase 3 RECOVER trial of brilaroxazine in schizophrenia.

Brilaroxazine demonstrated a strong efficacy for negative symptoms and other key symptoms of schizophrenia, such as total and positive symptoms, disorganization, and social functioning in the pivotal phase 3 RECOVER trial in schizophrenia.

The analyst notes that while Cobenfy primarily acts as a dopamine D2 partial agonist with limited serotonin receptor involvement, Brilaroxazine targets a broader range of receptors. This expanded activity could have a wider therapeutic impact, especially on cognitive symptoms.

The analyst further highlights that both Cobenfy and Brilaroxazine are effective in addressing the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. However, Brilaroxazine’s action on the 5-HT7 receptor, which plays a crucial role in cognition, may offer added benefits in cognitive enhancement.

In terms of side effects, Cobenfy presents a more typical profile for second-generation antipsychotics, including risks of weight gain and metabolic issues. Brilaroxazine, on the other hand, is being developed to mitigate these metabolic concerns and minimize movement-related side effects.

The analyst concludes that Cobenfy and Brilaroxazine take distinct paths in treating schizophrenia. Both therapies offer value in the treatment landscape, but Brilaroxazine’s potential cognitive advantages and improved metabolic profile could give it an edge upon approval.

Price Action: Reviva Pharmaceuticals stock is down 4.8% at $1.19 at last check Monday.

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