Skip to main content

Pristiq

Generic name: desvenlafaxine
Treatment for: Depression

Update: Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) Now FDA Approved for Depression - February 29, 2008

Wyeth Receives Approvable Letter From FDA for Pristiq (Desvenlafaxine Succinate) for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder

MADISON, N.J., January 23, 2007 -- Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth , announced today that the Company has received an approvable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Pristiq (desvenlafaxine succinate), a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) studied as a treatment for adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The letter was received January 22.

"The approvable letter is in line with Wyeth's expectations and we remain on track with our plans for Pristiq," says Joseph Mahady, President, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals -- North America and Global Businesses. "We are working toward resolution of all outstanding issues at our manufacturing site in Guayama, Puerto Rico and have already made significant progress in meeting previously established commitments."

According to the approvable letter, FDA approval of Pristiq is subject to several conditions, including the following:

As the Company has already communicated, launch timing for the MDD indication is predicated on three elements -- final FDA approval for Pristiq as a treatment for adult patients with MDD, the results of ongoing MDD studies at lower dosage levels, and the progress of FDA review of Wyeth's separate New Drug Application (NDA) for vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause. Importantly, while the approvable letter requires some post-marketing commitments, the FDA does not require that any additional clinical studies be submitted prior to the approval of Pristiq.

"Given the importance of Pristiq, we are committed to ensuring the most complete profile and product information is available to physicians and patients at the time of this product's launch," Mahady says.

About Pristiq

Pristiq is an SNRI studied as a potential treatment for adult men and women with MDD. Wyeth submitted a NDA for MDD on December 22, 2005. The Company has also filed a NDA for VMS associated with menopause and expects an FDA action letter in the second quarter of 2007. If approved, Pristiq will be the first and only non-hormonal medicine for the treatment of VMS associated with menopause. Wyeth is a leader in both neuroscience and women's health care.

Wyeth discovered and developed the first SNRI approved by the FDA, which is currently the most widely used antidepressant in the world. Pristiq represents Wyeth's latest efforts and continued commitment to developing therapies to help improve the lives of patients suffering from mental health disorders.

According to a large depression trial funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, only 28 percent of patients with depression achieved remission with initial antidepressant treatment. This leaves a large percentage of patients still suffering from depression. Clearly, additional medicines are needed for treating MDD.

About Antidepressants

Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in short-term studies in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of any antidepressant in a child or adolescent must balance this risk with the clinical need. Patients who are on such therapy should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with their prescriber.

About Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder is a serious medical condition that is different from "feeling blue" and is not something that people just "get over." Criteria for major depressive disorder include five or more of the following symptoms that have been present for at least two weeks, and at least one of the symptoms must be either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure.

Further, people with major depressive disorder may experience clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning. If a person experiences these symptoms, he or she should speak with a health care professional.

Major depressive disorder is a common mental disorder, affecting about 121 million people worldwide. In the United States, it is estimated that depression affects about 19 million American adults each year. The lifetime risk of major depression has been assessed from 10 to 25 percent for women and five to 12 percent for men. Research has shown that hormonal changes, including estrogen decline, or life stressors experienced by women may contribute to a major depressive episode.

Posted: January 2007

Related articles

Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) FDA Approval History

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.