FDA cancels advisory panel on Cymbalta
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The AP (1/5) reported, "The Food and Drug Administration has canceled a meeting to review Eli Lilly & Co.'s antidepressant Cymbalta [duloxetine] for a new use against chronic pain." The agency said the cancellation is intended "'to allow time for the FDA to review new information' about the proposed use."

Dow Jones Newswire (1/5, Dooren) reported that the FDA's anesthetic and life support drugs advisory committee was scheduled to evaluate Cymbalta on Jan. 28. The drug is currently approved to treat depression, diabetic nerve pain and fibromyalgia. The agency said it would continue to evaluate Lilly's application and it might send the matter to an advisory panel in the future.

Lilly said it had submitted a new study on the efficacy and safety of the drug with its regular 120-day update, Reuters (1/6, Richwine) reports. Lilly withdrew its application for approval in November 2008 and applied once again in June 2009.