Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl), a new treatment for major depression, has been launched by Eli Lilly and Company in the United States.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Cymbalta, a balanced and potent selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI), on Aug. 3 for the treatment of major depression, said an official release.

"The availability of Cymbalta is a long-awaited milestone for patients and physicians - it's an effective antidepressant that helps treat both the emotional and physical symptoms of depression," said John Lechleiter, executive vice president of pharmaceutical products and corporate development at Lilly.

Duloxetine hydrochloride also is being studied for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence and diabetic neuropathic pain, conditions believed to respond to treatment with both serotonin and norepinephrine.

Nearly 19 million Americans suffer from depression each year, making it one of the leading causes of disability according to the World Health Organization. Current medical literature suggests that patients who are successfully treated for all their depressive symptoms, including both the emotional and painful physical ones, may be more likely to achieve remission than those whose physical symptoms are not alleviated, the release added.