( he efficacy and tolerability ofCiprale...)Newly Published Data Demonstrates Superiority of Cipralex Over,Duloxetine for Acute Treatment of Depression,Health

- Patients taking Cipralex(R) demonstrated significantly greater improvement in depression symptoms at week eight (acute treatment) than patients taking duloxetine. This superiority was evident after the first week of treatment and was maintained at all time points until week 16 (p<0.05)(1)

- Cipralex(R) was at least as effective as duloxetine at 24 weeks of treatment, the primary endpoint of the study (p=0.055)(1).

- Patients treated with Cipralex showed significantly better functioning in their work, family and social life at week 8 and week 24, compared to duloxetine(1)

- Cipralex(R) was better tolerated than duloxetine. Significantly more duloxetine patients withdrew from the study due to adverse events than those treated with Cipralex(R) (17 percent versus nine percent respectively)(1)

"Since current guidelines urge the long-term treatment of depression, it is vital that treatments offer the required efficacy coupled with acceptable tolerability," continued Dr Wade. "These new data add to the increasing evidence that Cipralex(R) may have a significant clinical advantage in this respect."

Notes to Editors

About the clinical study

The study was designed to look at the efficacy and tolerability of Cipralex(R) compared to duloxetine in patients with moderate to severe MDD over 24 weeks, with a secondary endpoint at eight weeks (acute treatment). The double-blind, fixed-dose, comparative study included 294 patients with MDD from 35 centres in nine countries. Patients were randomised to either Cipralex(R) (n=143) or duloxetine (n=151), at dosing regimens recommended in the package inserts in participating countries (Cipralex(R) 20mg, duloxetine 60mg)(1).

Efficacy (using the MADRS rating scale as the primary scale) and tolerability were assessed at baseline and after 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks; a sa
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