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Feds OK Wyeth's New Antidepressant

Posted Feb 29, 08 7:41 PM CST in Science & Health,  Business 

(Newser) – Antidepressant Effexor XR will soon lose patent protection, and maker Wyeth is hoping Pristiq, the successor drug approved today by the FDA, will soften the financial blow. Higher-ups at the company gush over Pristiq's advantages, including zero acclimation time and no liver interaction, and hope that sales will offset losses to generic versions of Effexor, the New York Times reports.

Wyeth lauds the drug for the same reason that skeptics doubt claims of increased effectiveness: Pristiq is a “metabolite,” basically Effexor after human consumption. Wyeth hopes for sales similar to Effexor’s nearly $4 billion a year, and the market responded well to the FDA approval—but industry insiders doubt it will live up to expectations “with no clear advantages over” other antidepressants.

Source New York Times

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It's unknown when Pristiq could hit pharmacy shelves. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)   (Associated Press)
The lobby of the headquarters of pharmaceutical company Wyeth is shown in Madison, N.J., in this Oct. 19, 2006 file photo. The FDA's demand for further testing of Pristiq, a nonhormonal drug for menopause...   (Associated Press)
Wyeth headquarters in Madison, N.J., is seen in this April 28, 2004 file photo. (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer,File)   (Associated Press)
Effexor XR 75mg 1 week sample pack front   ((c) gloom)
Effexor XR 37.5mg / 75mg 2 weeks sample pack inside   ((c) gloom)
Effexor XR 37.5mg / 75mg 2 weeks sample pack front   ((c) gloom)
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stock market • FDA • antidepressant • Wyeth • metabolism • Effexor • patent expiration


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