People with schizophrenia not only suffer from hallucinations and paranoia. Most of them also have problems with cognitive functions such as concentrating and performing simple tasks. Dutch start-up Kynexis is currently testing a molecule that could alleviate these symptoms. ‘We hope to give patients a functional life again.’

‘All drugs that are prescribed for schizophrenia patients treat the well-known symptoms: hallucinations, delusions and paranoia, for example, which are called “positive symptoms”’, says Kynexis CEO Kees Been. Despite the side effects, they work quite well. ‘However, about eighty percent of the patients suffer from Cognitive Impairment Associated with Schizophrenia [CIAS, ed.], the cognitive symptoms for which there is currently no treatment. Paying attention, simple shopping, remembering things or living independently are all problematic.’ This is a huge burden to themselves and to society, and even with antipsychotics, people with schizophrenia need a lot of help.