The phase I clinical trial is designed as a double blind, single dose-escalation study and will be conducted at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv.
BL-1020 is an orally available small molecule that was shown in preclinical studies to retain the efficacy of currently available typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs while achieving a much higher safety profile as evidenced by a lack of metabolic or extrapyramidal side effects.
“There is a clear need for new antipsychotic drugs with increased efficacy and better tolerability. The currently available drugs, while effective, have patient compliance issues related to the drugs’ side effect profile. Preclinical studies have shown a very favorable safety profile for BL-1020, while retaining good efficacy,” said professor Michael Davidson, director of the department of psychiatry, Sheba Medical Center.