New Overactive Bladder Drug Approved
New Overactive Bladder Drug Approved
Dec. 22, 2004 -- The FDA today approved Enablex for the treatment of overactive bladder, according to the drug's manufacturer.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the East Hanover, N.J., affiliate of Swiss drug giant Novartis AG, says the drug should hit the U.S. market in early 2005.
The drug is approved for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urinary urge incontinence. Urge incontinence is a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate. In clinical trials, the drug decreased weekly urinary incontinence episodes by up to 83%. The results were seen within two weeks.
Enablex works by blocking a chemical messenger that makes the bladder muscle contract.
In clinical trials, the most common side effects of Enablex were dry mouth and constipation. Most side effects were mild or moderate and happened during the first two weeks of treatment. Most patients who had these side effects did not have to discontinue treatment.
Some people should not take Enablex: those with urinary retention, gastric retention, or uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma. People at risk of these conditions should also avoid the drug.
According to a Novartis news release, some 33 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder.
"Millions of patients and their families can be profoundly affected by overactive bladder," Nancy Muller, executive director of the National Association for Continence, says in the news release. "It is important that we continue to advance technology to bring new options to people with overactive bladder to help them manage this condition."
Novartis Pharmaceuticals, the East Hanover, N.J., affiliate of Swiss drug giant Novartis AG, says the drug should hit the U.S. market in early 2005.
The drug is approved for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urinary urge incontinence. Urge incontinence is a sudden, uncontrollable urge to urinate. In clinical trials, the drug decreased weekly urinary incontinence episodes by up to 83%. The results were seen within two weeks.
Enablex works by blocking a chemical messenger that makes the bladder muscle contract.
In clinical trials, the most common side effects of Enablex were dry mouth and constipation. Most side effects were mild or moderate and happened during the first two weeks of treatment. Most patients who had these side effects did not have to discontinue treatment.
Some people should not take Enablex: those with urinary retention, gastric retention, or uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma. People at risk of these conditions should also avoid the drug.
According to a Novartis news release, some 33 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder.
"Millions of patients and their families can be profoundly affected by overactive bladder," Nancy Muller, executive director of the National Association for Continence, says in the news release. "It is important that we continue to advance technology to bring new options to people with overactive bladder to help them manage this condition."
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