Posted by Griobhtha on August 4, 2004, at 14:35:06
Associated Press
Eli Lilly's Depression Drug Is Approved
08.04.2004, 09:40 AMPharmaceutical maker Eli Lilly and Co. on Wednesday said the Food and Drug Administration approved the company's Cymbalta drug for the treatment of emotional and physical symptoms associated with depression.
Cymbalta, a balanced inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine, has been studied in more than 6,000 adults with major depression worldwide. The company said that most anti-depressants only affect serotonin levels, but with the dual action of Lilly's drug, patients have the opportunity to have physical symptoms relieved as well.
"Depression is a whole-body illness, but most modern antidepressants treat the emotional symptoms, such as crying and sadness, better than they treat the physical symptoms of depression," said Dr. Stephen Stahl, chairman of the Neuroscience Education Institute and adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine.
Eli Lilly said current data shows that only 25 percent to 35 percent of patients treated for depression in clinical studies experience relief from all of their symptoms. About 19 million people in the United States suffer from depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
The safety and efficacy of Cymbalta has not been studied in children.
Eli Lilly shares were up 94 cents, or 1.5 percent, at $64.16 in pre-market activity on the New York Stock Exchange.
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