Cariprazine (Vraylar) is an oral atypical antipsychotic originated by Gedeon 
Richter. It is a potent dopamine D3 and D2 receptor partial agonist, which 
preferentially binds to the D3 receptor. Cariprazine also has partial agonist 
activity at serotonin 5-HT1A receptors. In September 2015, cariprazine received 
its first global approval in the USA for the treatment of schizophrenia and for 
the acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I 
disorder. It is also in development in a variety of countries for the treatment 
of schizophrenia with predominant negative symptoms (phase III), as adjunctive 
therapy for major depressive disorder (phase II/III) and for the treatment of 
bipolar depression (phase II). This article summarizes the milestones in the 
development of cariprazine leading to this first approval for schizophrenia and 
manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder.