Published:
Lilly Submits Cymbalta Supplemental New Drug Application for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Four Million Americans are Diagnosed Annually With Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today
announced the recent submission of a supplemental New Drug Application
(sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Cymbalta® (duloxetine
HCl) for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
Cymbalta is already approved in the United States for the treatment of
major depressive disorder and the management of diabetic peripheral
neuropathic pain, both in adults. Lilly is also conducting Phase III
studies on Cymbalta and its effects on fibromyalgia, a chronic, often
debilitating pain disorder characterized by widespread muscle aches, pain
and stiffness in muscles, and often accompanied by fatigue and sleep
disturbance.(i)
"More than three million patients worldwide have been treated with Cymbalta
since its approval from the FDA for the treatment of major depression and
management of diabetic nerve pain," said Alan Breier, M.D., vice president
-- medical and chief medical officer, Eli Lilly and Company. "Lilly is
committed to fully exploring other unmet patient needs, and looks forward
to conducting further research with this innovative drug."
Every year four million Americans aged 18-54 are diagnosed with generalized
anxiety disorder, the majority of them women.(ii) It is common for people
with generalized anxiety disorder to also experience other physical and
mental disorders, including depression, eating disorders or substance
abuse.(iii) Because generalized anxiety disorder presents with a variety of
symptoms, both anxious and physical, it can be difficult to diagnose.(iv)
When left untreated, symptoms may get progressively worse, significantly
diminishing a patient's quality of life.(ii)
About Cymbalta
Serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain and spinal cord are believed to
both mediate core depression symptoms and help regulate the perception of
pain. Disturbances of serotonin and/or norepinephrine may explain the
presence of both the emotional and physical symptoms, including painful
physical symptoms, of depression. Based on pre-clinical studies, duloxetine
is a balanced and potent reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and
norepinephrine.(v) While the mechanism of action of duloxetine is not fully
known, scientists believe its effect on both emotional symptoms and pain
perception is due to increasing the activity of serotonin and
norepinephrine in the central nervous system.
Important Safety Information
In clinical studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal
thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other
psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of Cymbalta or any other
antidepressant in a child or adolescent must balance the risk with the
clinical need. Patients who are starting therapy should be observed closely
for worsening depression symptoms, suicidal thoughts or behavior, or
unusual changes in behavior. Cymbalta is not approved for use in patients
under the age of 18.
Patients on antidepressants and their families or caregivers should watch
for worsening depression symptoms, unusual changes in behavior and thoughts
of suicide, as well as for anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, difficulty
sleeping, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity,
restlessness, or extreme hyperactivity. Call the doctor if you have
thoughts of suicide or if any of these symptoms are severe or occur
suddenly. Be especially observant at the beginning of antidepressive
treatment or whenever there is a change in dose.
Prescription Cymbalta is not for everyone. People who are allergic to
Cymbalta or the other ingredients in Cymbalta should not take it. If you
have recently taken a type of antidepressant called a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI), are taking Mellaril® (thioridazine) or have
uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma, you should not take Cymbalta. Talk with
your doctor before taking Cymbalta if you have liver or kidney problems,
glaucoma or consume large quantities of alcohol. Women who are pregnant
should talk with their doctor before taking Cymbalta. Nursing while taking
Cymbalta is not recommended. Tell your doctor if you are taking other
prescription or nonprescription medications.
In clinical studies of Cymbalta for depression, the most common side
effects were nausea, dry mouth, constipation, decreased appetite, fatigue,
sleepiness, and increased sweating. Nausea was the most common side effect.
For most people, the nausea was mild to moderate, and usually subsided
within one-to-two weeks. Cymbalta is also approved for the management of
neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In
clinical studies of Cymbalta in these patients, the most common side
effects were nausea, sleepiness, dizziness, constipation, dry mouth,
increased sweating, decreased appetite, and loss of strength or energy. In
all clinical trials, most people were not bothered enough by side effects
to stop taking Cymbalta. Your doctor may periodically check your blood
pressure. Don't stop taking Cymbalta without talking to your doctor.
For full Patient Information, visit www.Cymbalta.com.
For full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, visit
http://www.Cymbalta.com/.
About Eli Lilly and Company
Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing
portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by
applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from
collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in
Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and
information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs.
Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements about the potential
of Cymbalta for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, and reflects
Lilly's current beliefs. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there
are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of development and
commercialization. There is no guarantee that the product will receive
regulatory approval for generalized anxiety disorder, or that it will
continue to be commercially successful. For further discussion of these and
other risks and uncertainties, see Lilly's filings with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission. Lilly undertakes no duty to update
forward-looking statements.
(i) http://fmaware.org/fminfo/brochure.htm
(ii) National Institute of Mental Health. "Facts About Generalized
Anxiety Disorder." Available at:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/gadfacts.cfm. Accessed on:
February 6, 2006
(iii) National Mental Health Association. "Anxiety Disorders."
Available at: http://www.nmha.org/pbedu/anxiety/anxdis.cfm.
Accessed on: November 28, 2005.
(iv) Gliatto, Michal, F. "Generalized Anxiety Disorder." American
Family Physicians, Vol. 62/No. 7, October 1, 2000.
(v) Bymaster FP et al. Current Pharmaceutical Design.
2005; 11: 1475-1493.
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