Originally published January 18 2005
Pfizer's Lyrica to help battle nerve pain, epileptic seizures, other disorders
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The FDA gave approval on December 31 for Pfizer to market Lyrica, a new drug in the same class as the company's successful Neurontin product. Lyrica is expected to relieve conditions associated with excited nerve endings, such as fibromyalgia, spinal cord injuries, and neuropathy associated with diabetes and shingles. Lyrica may also be approved for use with anxiety disorders and epileptic seizures.
Clarification: An article in Friday's Business section about Pfizer Inc.'s new prescription drug Lyrica, which received approval from federal regulators for the treatment of nerve pain associated with diabetic neuropathy and shingles, did not make it clear that the drug is expected to be available to consumers within the next three months.
A new drug with the potential of helping millions of people battle chronic nerve pain, epileptic seizures and, possibly anxiety disorder was developed in the Ann Arbor research facilities of giant pharmaceutical maker Pfizer Inc.
Soon to be sold under the brand name Lyrica, for treating nerve pain, Pfizer's newest drug is expected to achieve at least $1 billion in sales, with the potential for much more if federal regulators approve more uses for the drug.
The Ann Arbor research facility could be the incubator for future groundbreaking drugs that employ the unique characteristics of Lyrica to treat a broad range of illnesses and disorders, researchers hope.
Pfizer received approval from the Food and Drug Administration Dec. 31 to market Lyrica in the United States for two uses: the nerve pain associated with diabetic neuropathy and pain that often accompanies shingles.
But because of the way Lyrica works -- through the central nervous system -- it has a potentially broad spectrum of uses, some of which are still in the development stages, says Toni Hoover, a psychologist and vice president and development site head of Pfizer Global Research and Development in Ann Arbor.
"It's definitely a blockbuster -- a billion-dollar product," said Trevor Polischuk, pharmaceutical analyst with money manager ObriMed Advisors.
Pfizer's Neurontin, which recently lost its patent protection, opening the doors to generic competitors, is approved for use in treating epilepsy and the pain associated with shingles, but was never formally approved for additional uses.
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