The University of Barcelona (UB), the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS), the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and the Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Mental Health (CIBERSAM) have developed a technology that allows to predict if the risk of a patient treated with antipsychotic drugs developing extrapyramidal symptoms, which affect the central nervous system. At the beginning of the year, researchers applied for a patent that the Bosch i Gimpera Foundation (FGB), based in the Parc Científic de Barcelona, licenced recently to the biotechnological company AB-Biotics.

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Side effects induced by antipsychotic drugs affect patient movement and cause muscle rigidity, tremor, parkinsonism, and akathisia (inability to remain motionless), among others. They are a major cause for abandonment of this type of treatments.

This technology will be incorporated into Neurofarmagen, a genetic test developed by AB-Biotics which identifies most optimum medication for each patient by analysing their DNA, extracted from a sample of saliva. The information provided by the new method helps doctors to identify the most appropriate treatment (drug and dose) for each patient. Neurofarmagen is currently marketed in Spain, through Almirall; in Brazil, through GlaxoSmithKline, and in Mexico, through Scienta Farma.

Inventors of the patent are Amàlia Lafuente, Cristina Malagelada and Sergi Mas from the UB; Patricia Gassó from IDIBAPS and UB, and Miguel Bernardo from UB, Hospital Clínic and CIBERSAM.