Eli Lilly applies for chronic pain drug approval

Chronic pain caused in the knee and lower back could be treated effectively by an existing antidepressant drug, Eli Lilly says.

It has applied for approval of Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) for the management of chronic knee pain caused by osteoporosis and chronic lower back pain.

This follows studies into the effects and efficacy of the drug administered to patients with at least moderate back or knee pain.

It is already approved in the US for the acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain in adults.

Researchers believe that Cymbalta’s effects on depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as its effect on pain perception, occur as it increases the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine in the central nervous system.

Eli Lilly also focuses on treatments for children, including for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as cancer, diabetes, erectile dysfunction and women’s health.