Bukwang Pharmaceutical announced on the 31st that it has applied for an item permit for Lurasidone, a new drug for treating schizophrenia and bipolar depression, from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Lurasidone is a treatment for depression with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder developed by Sumitomo Pharma, Japan. Bukwang Pharmaceutical has exclusive development rights and copyrights in Korea. Bukwang Pharmaceutical recently announced that Lurasidone proved non-differential compared to the existing schizophrenia treatment "Quetiapine" in the top-line results of phase 3 clinical trials for schizophrenia patients.

Lurasidone has lower metabolic adverse reactions such as weight gain, prolactin gain,