NEWS - FDA approves Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) for chronic musculoskeletal pain

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Medscape

FDA Approves Duloxetine for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

November 5, 2010 — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has

approved duloxetine HCl delayed-release capsules (Cymbalta; Eli Lilly

and Co) for the once-daily treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain.

" Up to three quarters of the population experience chronic pain at

some time in their lives, " said Janet Woodcock, MD, director of FDA's

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in an agency news release.

" This approval means that many of those people now have another

treatment option. "

Regulatory approval followed a positive vote (8 - 5) in August from

the FDA Anesthetic and Life Support Drugs advisory committee regarding

the use of duloxetine to treat chronic low back pain. However, as

reported by Medscape Medical News, the committee did not express the

same confidence in the drug's usefulness as a treatment for

osteoarthritis, voting 9 to 4 against its endorsement.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/732036

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