By Maria Armental
Forest Laboratories Inc. (FRX) reported positive top-line
results from three Phase 3 trials of vilazodone in adult patients
with generalized anxiety disorder.
In two flexible-dose and one fixed-dose eight-week trials,
patients who received vilazodone showed statistically significant
improvement, the New York specialty pharmaceutical company
said.
Based on the results, the company said it will file a
supplemental new drug application next year with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration.
Generalized anxiety disorders affect about 6.8 million American
adults, causing them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty,
according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It affects
twice as many women as men, and the average age of onset is 31
years old.
Forest, which has been diversifying its product base in recent
years, acquired the drug as part of its deal for Clinical Data Inc.
in 2011, betting the then-newly approved vilazodone would help
offset the loss of major products against looming generic
competition.
Forest Labs is being bought by Dublin-based Actavis PLC for
about $25 billion in a deal expected to close midyear.
Write to Maria Armental at maria.armental@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires