
Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that affects about 1% of the
world population (more than 2.4 million individuals in US) with long-
lasting behavioral consequences The disease is manifested by a set
of abnormal behaviors including psychosis, social withdrawal, and cognitive deficits. These behavioral modifications are accompanied
by specific changes in brain structures, neurotransmission and
synaptic signaling. Despite more than 50 years of research, the underlying causes are not well understood and there is no cure.
Current medications (with annual global sales of $20 billion) are not effective in treating major symptoms such as cognitive deficits which
produce serious debilitating site effects such that about 75% of
patents become noncompliant after 18 months of treatment