Beyond Dopamine: Why Traditional Schizophrenia Treatments Miss 50% of Patient Needs
February 4, 2026
In this episode of Power to the Patients, Brandon Li sits down with Dr. Laxminarayan Bhat, Founder and CEO of Reviva Pharmaceuticals, to explore groundbreaking developments in schizophrenia treatment. Dr. Bhat shares insights on his company's innovative drug that shows promising results with fewer side effects and better patient adherence than existing treatments. Discover how their unique approach to targeting serotonin-dopamine signaling, combined with reduced off-target effects, could transform the lives of millions living with schizophrenia. Learn about the challenges and triumphs of developing psychiatric medications, the role of biomarkers in treatment, and the future of precision psychiatry.
A groundbreaking approach to treating schizophrenia emerges through innovative drug development that addresses both efficacy and safety concerns in long-term treatment.
In this episode of Power to the Patients, host Brandon Li speaks with Dr. Laxminarayan Bhat, founder and CEO of Reviva Pharmaceuticals, about their revolutionary approach to developing new treatments for schizophrenia, focusing on their lead compound bileroxazine and its promising clinical trial results.
What You'll Learn:
- Why current schizophrenia treatments fall short and how next-generation drugs can better serve patients' lifelong needs
- How rational drug design led to a breakthrough in addressing both serotonin-dopamine signaling and neuroinflammation
- The significance of achieving a 35% discontinuation rate compared to 60-70% with current treatments
- Why targeting multiple symptom domains (positive, negative, and cognitive) is crucial for effective schizophrenia treatment
- How improved drug absorption and metabolism profiles can enhance long-term treatment success
- The role of biomarkers and digital tools in advancing precision psychiatry for schizophrenia
- Why balancing commercial viability with precision medicine remains a key challenge in psychiatric drug development
- How addressing off-target effects can significantly improve drug safety and efficacy profiles
About the Guest:
Dr. Laxminarayan Bhat is the Founder and CEO of Reviva Pharmaceuticals, a pioneering pharmaceutical company focused on developing innovative treatments for psychiatric disorders. With over 25 years of experience in drug discovery and development, Dr. Bhat is a distinguished translational scientist with a PhD in medicinal chemistry and holds over 80 granted patents. He is the inventor of bileroxazine, a breakthrough treatment for schizophrenia that has shown promising results in clinical trials, treating over 1,000 patients with improved efficacy and reduced side effects compared to existing treatments. Under his leadership, Reviva has raised $150 million in funding and developed a novel approach to addressing both the core symptoms of schizophrenia and associated neuroinflammation. His work represents a significant advancement in psychiatric medicine, particularly in developing treatments that offer better patient adherence and reduced discontinuation rates compared to current standards of care.
Episode Resources:
Power to the Patients is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so