Pfizer’s Lyrica gets European Commission go-ahead

Pfizer has announced that its Lyrica drug, for the treatment of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), has been approved by the European Commission.

Lyrica was approved following five randomised double-blind clinical trials, in which more than 2,000 patients took part.

It was shown that the drug was “significantly effective” in the first week of treatment, alleviating the symptoms associated with the conditions, such as depression, panic headaches and muscle aches.

Dr Stuart Montgomery, professor of psychiatry at the Imperial College School of Medicine, London, said: “Now that Lyrica is available, we have a new treatment option to help alleviate a broad range of emotional and physical symptoms of this prevalent condition.”

GAD affects five per cent of people at some stage in their life and is characterised by excessive tension and worry about everyday life.

Meanwhile, Dr Joseph Fezcko, president of worldwide development at Pfizer, concluded that early diagnosis and effective treatment were “critical” in order to minimise the worsening of co-existing illnesses.

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