Key Takeaways Bristol Myers Squibb's drug to treat schizophrenia was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration.The pharmaceutical firm called Cobenfy the first new treatment for the illness in decades.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMY) highly anticipated schizophrenia drug, Cobenfy. It’s the first novel treatment for the debilitating mental disorder in over seven decades.

Shares in Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) surged Friday, after the Food and Drug Administration approved the drugmaker's novel treatment for schizophrenia. Bristol-Myers shares stood about 6% higher in recent premarket trading,