Lilly reaches vital Zyprexa step

Lilly has reached an important stage of its Zyprexa (olanzapine) development, it has stated.

Details of the atypical antipsychotic have been looked at by the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC).

The panel has decided the medication is safe and effective for patients aged between 13 and 17 with schizophrenia or manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder.

If the medication is approved for the indications, the committee asserted prescribers should first look at other options for adolescents.

Dr John Hayes, vice-president of Lilly Research Laboratories, noted two days were spent discussing the topic, which has been debated by medical professionals and the media.

“[The] committee vote is an important step toward providing help and hope to the many teens suffering from severe mental illness,” he asserted.

Although the FDA is not bound by the PDAC’s recommendations, it will take the panel’s views into consideration when deciding whether or not to approve the drug application.

Last month, Lilly presented data on the short and long-term safety and efficacy of olanzapine long-acting injection for the management of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in adults.