Nature of the Yeast
University of Toronto researchers have developed a yeast-based strategy to identify off-target effects of psychoactive drugs.1 The approach could provide an early screen to find compounds with improved side effects and has already been licensed by a handful of biopharma companies. The unanswered question is whether findings in yeast will correlate with effects in humans.
Targets of traditional antipsychotics include dopamine receptors. Side effects associated with these first-generation drugs range from sexual and reproductive issues to seizures.2 The impact on quality of life and patient compliance with these drugs prompted development of the next generation of drugs, dubbed atypical antipsychotics, which often target both serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine receptors. Atypical antipsychotics have been linked to cardiovascular and neurological problems such asmyocarditis and agranulocytosis.3...