Short-term efficacy and tolerability of lurasidone in the treatment of acute schizophrenia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Lurasidone, an azapirone derivative, is a novel second generation antipsychotic with potent binding affinity for dopamine D2, serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT7, 5-HT1A, and noradrenaline alpha2C receptors. This updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examined the short-term efficacy and tolerability of lurasidone in the treatment of acute schizophrenia. Double-blinded RCTs reporting on the short-term effects of lurasidone were included. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with their 95% confidence interval (CI), and number needed to harm (NNH) were computed. The meta-analysis had 8 RCTs with 16 active arms that included 2373 patients with acute schizophrenia who were randomized to either lurasidone (20–160 mg/day; n = 1570) or placebo (n = 803) groups. Lurasidone was superior to placebo with regard to change in total psychopathology [SMD: -0.34, (95%CI: -0.48, -0.20), P