[Comment] Clozapine: old drugs require efforts to improve patient experience and access

Treatment-resistant schizophrenia is a disabling illness, affecting approximately 8 million people worldwide with profound effects on patients, families, and society.1,2 Clozapine is the gold standard medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and remains the only licensed treatment for this indication. It is clinically effective in 40% of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia,3 and improves patients’ quality of life, reduces premature mortality, and is cost-effective.4,5 Furthermore, once commenced on clozapine, the majority of patients prefer clozapine to their previous antipsychotic medications.

May 15, 2025 - 23:42
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Treatment-resistant schizophrenia is a disabling illness, affecting approximately 8 million people worldwide with profound effects on patients, families, and society.1,2 Clozapine is the gold standard medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia and remains the only licensed treatment for this indication. It is clinically effective in 40% of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia,3 and improves patients’ quality of life, reduces premature mortality, and is cost-effective.4,5 Furthermore, once commenced on clozapine, the majority of patients prefer clozapine to their previous antipsychotic medications.