
CRESTAR – development of pharmacogenomic biomarkers for schizophrenia
Treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) is one of the most disabling of all psychiatric illnesses, affecting about a third of patients with this illness (~1 million Europeans), a considerable economic and social burden. First-line treatments include atypical (e.g. olanzapine) and typical (e.g. haloperidol) antipsychotics. The original atypical, clozapine, is a final option, and although it is the only antipsychotic shown to be effective in TRS up to half of TRS patients are also resistant to clozapine. Antipsychotics such as clozapine also cause side affects (adverse drug reactions), some of which are severe. CRESTAR is an SME-driven projected, focusing on the development of pharmacogenomics biomarkers for schizophrenia treatment response and medication side-effects.
Schizophrenia and therapy
Results and findings
Useful Links
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CRESTAR final summary report
CRESTAR project officially ended 31st October 2015. The final summary report is available here. -
Improving the outcome in treatment-
resistant schizophreniaThe faster schizophrenia patients receive effective treatment, the better their prognosis. EU-funded CRESTAR researchers are establishing a profile of individuals unlikely to respond to the drugs used in first-line treatment, for whom the last-resort antipsychotic clozapine should be considered sooner. They are also improving the safety of this drug.