Sydney Lupkin, NPR's pharmaceutical correspondent, dives deep into revolutionary changes in schizophrenia treatment. After decades of relying on dopamine-focused therapies, a newly FDA-approved drug targets muscarinic receptors, which could reduce brutal side effects. Sydney explores the unexpected origins of this breakthrough, the challenges surrounding new medication accessibility, and the hopeful stories of those navigating these changes. This discussion sheds light on a future where schizophrenia treatments may become more effective and compassionate.

White House correspondent Tamara Keith, White House reporter Deepa Shivaram, and Pharmaceuticals correspondent Sydney Lupkin discuss President Biden's plan to lower drug costs through negotiation, including the first 10 drugs for negotiation, barriers to lowering drug costs, and the potential impact on Medicare spending, support for negotiating drug prices, opposition from drug companies, and the plan's potential impact on different groups.

The Food and Drug Administration allows faster drug approvals based on preliminary study data if the drug fulfills an unmet medical need. But the speedy approval comes with a promise that the drugmaker does another clinical trial once the drug is on the market to prove it really works. If not, the FDA can rescind the approval. How are the companies doing and how well does the agency enforce that system? Pharmaceuticals correspondent Sydney Lupkin investigated the 30-year track record for accelerated approvals. Today, her findings on stalled trials and missing evidence.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy