FDA approves Cymbalta for fibromyalgia

INDIANAPOLIS The Food and Drug Administration has approved Eli Lilly’s Cymbalta for the management of fibromyalgia, a chronic widespread pain disorder.

Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2 percent of the U.S. population—approximately 5 million people—the majority of those diagnosed being women. The disorder is characterized by chronic widespread pain and tenderness. 

“The FDA approval of Cymbalta for the management of fibromyalgia is another important step in the efforts to ensure that people with fibromyalgia will have the availability of effective medications to help reduce the chronic, widespread pain of this life-altering disorder,” said Lynne Matallana, president of the National Fibromyalgia Association and a fibromyalgia patient.

For 2007, Cymbalta had sales worldwide of over $2 billion, according to Eli Lilly.