Minerva Neurosciences announces news via press release

On February 3, 2026, Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. will hold a virtual key opinion leader (KOL) event featuring experts Gregory Strauss, PhD, and Brian Kirkpatrick, MD, MSPH, who will discuss the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and the potential of roluperidone, a treatment currently in Phase 3 clinical trials. Despite decades of clinical trials and FDA approvals, existing antipsychotics fail to effectively address negative symptoms. The FDA recently held a meeting in August 2024 to address the lack of approved treatments specifically for negative symptoms. Minerva’s novel Phase 3 trial slated for 2026 will follow a unique protocol aligned with FDA guidelines to enhance the chances of a successful outcome.

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are especially challenging and leave individuals unable to live independently. Symptoms like blunted affect, alogia, avolition, anhedonia, and asociality significantly reduce a person’s quality of life. Currently, around 50% to 60% of individuals with schizophrenia experience primary negative symptoms, which do not respond to traditional antipsychotics. While existing treatments may alleviate positive symptoms (such as delusions and hallucinations) and secondary negative symptoms, they do not target the core negative symptoms of the disorder. This unmet medical need has been acknowledged by the FDA.

Gregory Strauss, PhD, is the Franklin Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Georgia, while Brian Kirkpatrick, MD, MSPH, is a Peters Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, both recognized experts in the field of schizophrenia research. Strauss focuses on the assessment and treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia patients and at-risk youth. Kirkpatrick’s groundbreaking work has led to significant advancements in schizophrenia treatments and research, gaining funding from various organizations for his contributions to the field.

Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. is committed to developing therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, with a particular focus on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Their investigational drug, roluperidone, holds promising potential to target the unaddressed negative symptoms of the disorder. The company aims to provide patients with improved therapeutic options and transform their lives by addressing this critical aspect of schizophrenia.

In conclusion, Minerva Neurosciences’ upcoming virtual KOL event will shed light on the challenges associated with treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia and the potential impact of roluperidone as a groundbreaking treatment option. Through innovative approaches and collaboration with experts in the field, Minerva is at the forefront of addressing the significant unmet medical need in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia, paving the way for better outcomes for patients worldwide.