Lurasidone is a novel compound synthesized by SEPRACOR, Inc.for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia & bipolar disorder. It possesses high affinity for dopamine D2, serotonin 5-HT2A, 5-HT7, 5-HT1A & noradrenaline α2C receptors. Compared with other atypical antipsychotics, lurasidone demonstrates similar binding affinities for the D2 & 5-HT2A receptors, but greater affinity for serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. Lurasidone displays no affinity for histamine H1 or acetylcholine M1 receptors. In animal studies, lurasidone significantly reversed memory impairment induced by MK-801, an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, in a rat step-through type passive avoidance task. The maximum inhibitory effects of lurasidone were greater than those observed with risperidone, quetiapine, & olanzapine, while aripiprazole was not effective in reversing the impairment induced by MK-801. Additionally, lurasidone significantly reversed memory impairment induced by the anticholinergic drug scopolamine in the passive avoidance task. The reversal of pharmacologically induced cognitive deficits in rats by lurasidone is promising & warrants specific investigation in subjects with schizophrenia, given the prominence of cognitive deficits in this disorder.