AstraZeneca announces approval of Seroquel

AstraZeneca has been granted permission to distribute its once-daily Seroquel XR (quetiapine fumarate extended-release tablets) and Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) treatments by the European Mutual Recognition Procedure.

The drug is designed for use in patients who suffer from repeat episodes of bipolar disorder whose manic, mixed or depressive episodes have been successfully treated with quetiapine.

Bipolar disorder can cause severe mood swings and is a serious mental illness characterised by manic and depressive episodes that have a tendency to recur.

Now, both Seroquel and Seroquel XR are the only therapies authorised for use in the EU for the treatment of all phases of the condition.

The next step for AstraZeneca will be to obtain local approvals with individual member states participating in the Mutual Recognition Procedure.

In other AstraZeneca news this week, the firm has reached an agreement with UCB for the joint commercialisation of the anti-TNF alpha drug Cimzia (certolizumab pegol).