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News
A new monthly shot for schizophrenia just got the green light. The FDA has approved Weltruza, Teva's once-monthly injectable form of olanzapine, for adults with schizophrenia. The long-acting formulation aims to tackle one of psychiatry's biggest hurdles — keeping patients on their medication — and a US launch is expected within weeks.
A new monthly shot for schizophrenia just got the green light.
The FDA has approved Weltruza, a once-monthly injectable antipsychotic developed by Teva in partnership with French biotech Medincell. The drug is a long-acting injectable formulation of olanzapine — a well-established antipsychotic — designed to release the medication steadily over an extended period. Teva plans to launch Weltruza in the US within the coming weeks.
This is the second FDA-approved product to emerge from the Teva-Medincell partnership, following Uzedy (long-acting injectable risperidone), which was approved in 2023. The approval signals growing momentum for long-acting injectables (LAIs) as a strategy to address poor medication adherence in schizophrenia and other chronic psychiatric conditions.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Medication non-adherence is a major driver of relapse in schizophrenia. A once-monthly injection removes the daily pill burden, potentially improving outcomes for patients and reducing hospitalizations — a meaningful step forward for both patients and clinicians.
