BioLineRx has reported data from the Phase IIb EAGLE study of BL-1020, a first in class GABA-enhanced anti-psychotic for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that BL-1020 acts by blocking activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine and enhancing the activity of another neurotransmitter, GABA.

The six-week Phase IIb EAGLE study, designed to compare BL-1020 with placebo, randomised 363 patients with a low or high dose of BL-1020, risperidone (positive control) or placebo.

The primary efficacy measure included the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, while the secondary efficacy measures involved the Clinical Global Impression of Severity and the Clinical Global Impression of Change.

In the study, BL-1020 was found to improve cognitive function and treat schizophrenia symptoms with a good safety profile in patients suffering from schizophrenia.

BioLineRx has also began patient enrolment in the Phase II/III CLARITY clinical trial of BL-1020.