RxTrials Institute Drug Pipeline Alert

Forest Laboratories has completed a study that shows Lexapro improved symptoms of adolescent depression as compared with placebo.

Treatment was well tolerated in an eight–week study of 316 patients age 12–17 with major depressive disorder, according to Phase III data presented at the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.

Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate) has not been approved by the FDA for use in pediatric or adolescent patients. Based on the results of this study, the company said it plans to file for an adolescent depression indication for the drug this year.