FDA approves overactive bladder drug made by Astellas

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for treating overactive bladder made by Astellas Pharma, the agency said Thursday.

The FDA announced the approval of Myrbetriq (mirabegron), which works by relaxing the bladder muscle while the organ is filling. In patients with overactive bladder, the muscle can't be controlled, squeezes too often or squeezes without warning. Symptoms of overactive bladder include the need to urinate too often, the need to urinate immediately and incontinence. The condition affects about 33 million Americans.

The FDA's approval of the drug was based on a clinical trial of 4,116 patients who were randomly assigned to take Myrbetriq at 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg or placebo each day for 12 weeks. 

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