RESEARCH - Milnacipran shows promise for fibromyalgia

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Medscape Rheumatology

Medical News

Milnacipran Shows Promise for Fibromyalgia

June 13, 2008 (Paris) — The investigational agent milnacipran has

displayed activity against multiple symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome,

according to European investigators. They reported the results of a

phase 3 study here at EULAR 2008, the European League Against

Rheumatism Annual Congress.

In the placebo-controlled trial, patients who received up to 12 weeks

of milnacipran after a 4-week dose-escalation run-in phase had about a

2-fold improvement in a composite endpoint of pain and Patient Global

Impression of Change score than placebo, said lead author

Branco, MD, professor of rheumatology at the CHLO, EPE-Hospital Egas

Moniz in Lisbon, Portugal.

" We saw that milnacipran is significantly better than placebo

in...fibromyalgia patients, " Dr. Branco told Medscape Rheumatology.

" The global index, a measure of pain and function, was better in

patients on milnacipran than on placebo. "

The results were similar to those seen in a US trial of milnacipran,

the results of which were previously reported at the American College

of Rheumatology 2007 annual meeting in Boston, Dr. Branco said.

Milnacipran is a dual norepinephrine- and selective serotonin-reuptake

inhibitor that has greater affinity for blocking reuptake of the

former. It is currently under US Food and Drug Administration review

for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

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