Latebreakers: First drug to treat fibromyalgia receives go-ahead

Pregabalin (Lyrica) from Pfizer received word from the FDA that its application to use the drug for the treatment of fibromyalgia was approved. In two double-blind clinical trials involving approximately 1,800 patients, results showed the drug decreased pain, a common complaint associated with the disorder. According to Pfizer, the exact mechanism by which pregabalin works to achieve this effect is unknown. Fibromyalgia is often characterized by chronic pain and muscle tenderness or stiffness and affects about three to six million people in the U.S. each year. Pregabalin was previously approved for treating neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and as an adjunctive therapy for adult patients with partial-onset seizures.