Bristol Says Bipolar Drug Cuts Relapses

(December 7, 2006) -- Bristol-Myers Squibb on Thursday said its drug Abilify significantly delayed relapses among adults with bipolar disorder over a two-year period, although the vast majority of patients stopped taking the medicine before the end of the observation period.

The New York-based company said patients in the study were initially stabilized with the anti-psychotic drug for at least six weeks following an episode of mania or a mixed episode -- meaning elements of mania as well as depression -- and many continued to take it to control their symptoms.

Among 161 adults that began the trial, only 12 continued to take the medicine for the entire 100-week observation period. The company said high percentages of bipolar patients drop out of long-term trials for various reasons.

The results were published in a supplement to the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the company said in a release.

Source: Reuters

Last updated: 12/06

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