Welcome to the EPA 2022 Interactive Programme 

Session Description:

Cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia (CIAS) is a central feature of the condition and is associated with deficits across multiple cognitive domains. CIAS is a significant predictor of real-world functioning, affecting one’s ability to live independently, be gainfully employed, and have meaningful interpersonal relationships. Existing pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia fall short in meeting the need associated with cognitive impairments, and non-pharmacological therapies, while recommended by current treatment guidelines, are limited in their ability to mitigate CIAS symptoms. This session will elucidate the current understanding of CIAS and its underlying physiology; explain the importance of dopaminergic and glutamatergic signaling, including the potential role of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and glycine transporter type-1 (GlyT1) function in cognition; and highlight the impact of CIAS from the patient perspective. This compelling session will then discuss GlyT1 inhibition as a potential target for CIAS and present Phase II data on Boehringer Ingelheim’s investigational therapeutic GlyT1 inhibitor, BI 425809.