NEW YORK, March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Forest Laboratories, Inc.
(NYSE: FRX) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
following its initial review of a supplemental New Drug Application for
Lexapro (R) (excitalopram oxalate), an SSRI antidepressant, for the treatment
of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), has determined the application not
approvable. While indicating that data from one of the two required pivotal
studies supported the application, the agency raised questions related to the
reliability of patient data at one study center in the second pivotal study.
Both studies were conducted in Europe. By eliminating the study center in
question the statistical significance (p-value) of the study declines to 0.06
which the FDA no longer accepted as a positive pivotal study. Forest is
reviewing the FDA's analysis and will determine the appropriate next steps to
address the non-approvable letter in the coming months, which may include
additional discussions with the FDA pertaining to data from the excluded
center or conducting an additional pivotal study. Lexapro is indicated for
the initial and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder and for
generalized anxiety disorder in adults. It is also approved in Europe for
Depression, Social Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder where it is marketed by
H. Lundbeck A/S.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001011/FORESTLOGO )
Except for the 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, 2004, and on
form 10-Q for the periods ended June 30, 2004, September 30, 2004 and December
31, 2004. Actual results may differ materially from those projected.
SOURCE Forest Laboratories, Inc.
-0- 03/30/2005
/CONTACT: Charles E. Trian, Vice President, Investor Relations of Forest
Laboratories Inc., +1-212-224-6714, Charles.Triano@frx.com/
/Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001011/FORESTLOGO /
/Web site: http://www.frx.com /
(FRX)