File this under expanding indications, if not horizons. Lilly has just released some data suggesting its Cymbalta antidepressant can relieve knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.Here's the statement.
Results from a study of 231 patients show "significant" pain improvement compared with placebo within the first week of treatment during a 13-week trial. The primary endpoint was reduction of severe pain measured by the weekly mean of 24-hour average pain scores.
And so, Lilly says 59 percent of Cymbalta patients experienced a 30 percent improvement compared with 45 percent of patients on placebo. And 47 percent of Cymbalta patients experienced a 50 percent improvement in pain compared with 29 percent of placebo patients.
A total of 22, or 9.5 percent, of patients discontinued due to adverse events - this amounted to 7, or 5.8 percent, in the placebo group and 15, or 13.5 percent, of the Cymbalta group. Patients diagnosed with depression within the previous six months were excluded. No word on how many, if any patients had been diagnosed with depression earlier. Osteoarthritis, as you know, can dampen one's outlook.