Eli Lilly and Company has withdrawn its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) for the management of chronic pain. Lilly plans to resubmit the application in the first half of 2009, adding data from a recently completed positive study in chronic osteoarthritis pain of the knee.

The decision does not affect duloxetine's FDA-approved indications for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain and management of fibromyalgia.

Lilly submitted the chronic pain application in the second quarter of 2008 based primarily on outcomes of three clinical trials: one positive study in chronic osteoarthritis pain of the knee and two studies, -- one positive and one that is supportive but didn't meet its primary endpoint -- in chronic low back pain. In discussions between Lilly and the FDA, agency reviewers raised questions about efficacy and dosing that revolved primarily around statistical methodology and study design.

"This was a difficult decision, but we believe the updated data package will give the FDA a broader basis for reviewing our application," said John Hayes, a Lilly Research Laboratories vice president at Lilly.

Chronic pain affects more than 50 million Americans and pain is a major cause of work absenteeism, underemployment and unemployment.