Serotonin booster breakthrough.
Thousands of Australians grapple with severe mental health conditions. When treatment with antipsychotic medications is recommended, a common side effect is weight gain, complicating an already challenging diagnosis.
In a pioneering global study, the University of South Australia has discovered that antipsychotics can be reformulated with a specially designed coating. This innovative approach not only mitigates unwanted weight gain but also boosts serotonin levels by more than 250%.
Supported by the Hospital Research Foundation (THRF) Group, researchers focused on Lurasidone—a drug used for treating schizophrenia and bipolar depression. The new coatings they tested significantly improve drug absorption by targeting the gut microbiome, enhancing absorption by eight times while simultaneously addressing common side effects like weight gain.
The breakthrough coatings consist of tiny core-shell particles made from dietary fiber inulin and bioactive medium chain triglycerides. The inulin shell enhances the gut microbiome by providing an energy source for gut bacteria, whereas the medium chain triglycerides facilitate the drug’s absorption into the bloodstream. This groundbreaking discovery holds the potential to transform the lives of millions globally. Dr. Paul Joyce, the lead researcher from UniSA, emphasizes that microbiota-targeting microcapsules could markedly improve the treatment outcomes of mental health medications. "Most patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder are prescribed various antipsychotic medications that significantly disrupt the gut microbiome—the microbial ecosystem in the gut," Dr. Joyce explains. "The prevalent side effect is weight gain, with many patients experiencing a weight increase of 10-15% within just three months of treatment."
Dr. Joyce highlights the crucial role of the gut microbiome in regulating overall health, particularly mood and cognition. The adverse impact of these medications on the microbiome often renders them counterproductive, potentially leading to a vicious cycle of poor mental and metabolic health. "Instead of improving mood and cognition, the medication often results in weight gain alongside mental health challenges. Additionally, most antipsychotics need to be consumed with food for maximum efficacy, which is challenging for a vulnerable patient population. This results in suboptimal drug levels for many patients," he states. Clearly, innovative strategies are essential to eliminate these side effects and the need for medication to be taken with food, which the research team has successfully achieved with Lurasidone. "This study demonstrates that formulating antipsychotic drugs with our advanced core-shell microparticles enhances drug absorption, eliminating the need to take the medication with food, and boosting gut microbiome diversity to combat common side effects like weight gain."
Crucially, as the research focuses on reformulating existing drugs rather than developing new ones, these new therapies can be fast-tracked for clinical use. This means they could be available within a few years rather than the 10-15 years typically required for new drug approvals by regulatory bodies. The next steps involve testing the efficacy of these reformulated therapies in human patients. Long-term goals include extending these technologies to all mental health therapies, including antidepressants, to mitigate adverse effects.