NEW YORK, Sep 5, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Forest Laboratories,
Inc., (NYSE: FRX) announced today that Lexapro(TM) (escitalopram oxalate), a
powerful, effective and well-tolerated selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI), is now available in pharmacies nationwide. Lexapro, the single active
isomer of Celexa(TM) (citalopram HBr), was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for the treatment of major depressive disorder on August
14, 2002. On August 29, the FDA approved new labeling for Lexapro as maintenance
treatment.
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Lexapro's efficacy and tolerability have been demonstrated in clinical trials.
The recommended dose of Lexapro is 10 mg daily, which was comparable in a
clinical trial to the higher titrated dose of Celexa at 40 mg daily.
Additionally, Lexapro 10 mg per day demonstrated a significant improvement in
depressive symptoms by comparison to placebo treatment beginning as early as the
first or second week of treatment in clinical studies.
About Depression
Each year, nearly 19 million adult Americans suffer from a depressive illness.
One of every 4 women and 1 in 10 men can expect to be diagnosed with depression
during their lifetime. Depression costs the United States an estimated $44
billion each year. The World Health Organization predicts depression will become
the leading cause of disability by the year 2020.
About Lexapro: An Isomer of Celexa
Lexapro is the product of a relatively new approach that involves the removal of
one of two enantiomers from Celexa to create a single-enantiomer drug. Celexa is
a racemic mixture of two mirror-image halves called the S- and R-enantiomers.
With Lexapro, the R-enantiomer (that does not contribute to Celexa's
antidepressant activity) has been removed, leaving only the therapeutically
active S-enantiomer. For more information on Lexapro, please visit,
http://www.lexapro.com.
Forest Laboratories licensed Lexapro from the Danish pharmaceutical firm H.
Lundbeck A/S, which developed both citalopram and escitalopram in Europe.
About Forest Laboratories and Its Products
Forest Laboratories develops, manufactures, and sells ethical pharmaceutical
products that are used for the treatment of a wide range of illnesses. Forest's
growing line of products includes: Celexa, which has been prescribed for more
than eight million U.S. patients and is the fastest growing antidepressant in
the U.S.; Tiazac(R), a once-daily diltiazem, which is indicated for the
treatment of angina and hypertension; and Aerobid(R) an inhaled steroid
indicated for the treatment of asthma. The Company has also entered into a
co-promotion agreement with Sankyo of Japan for the marketing of Benicar(TM)*
for the treatment of hypertension.
Except for historical information contained herein, this release contains
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that affect our business, including risk factors listed from time
to time in the Company's SEC reports, including the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002 and Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002. Actual results may differ materially
from those projected.
*Benicar is a registered trademark of Sankyo Pharma.
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SOURCE Forest Laboratories, Inc.
CONTACT: Charles E. Triano, Vice President - Investor Relations, Forest
Laboratories, Inc., +1-212-224-6714, Charles.triano@frx.com
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URL: http://www.frx.com
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