Minerva’s schizophrenia miss casts doubt on approach to treating negative symptoms

Minerva’s Phase III miss in schizophrenia sent its shares down 72% on Friday, putting into doubt the future of the leading therapeutic candidate in development to treat the negative symptoms of schizophrenia -- an indication that causes much of the disability associated with the neuropsychiatric disorder.

Despite the loss of investor confidence, Minerva Neurosciences Inc. (NASDAQ:NERV) believes a high placebo response led to roluperidone’s miss and that there can be a way forward for the HT2A and sigma-2 receptor antagonist...