Eli Lilly antidepressant approved for new use

Regulators approved Cymbalta to treat fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder. The drug already is approved for diabetic nerve pain, major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

Lilly launched Cymbalta in 2004. It was the drugmaker's second-best seller last year, generating $2.1 billion in mostly U.S. sales behind Zyprexa's $4.7 billion. Cymbalta sales rose 37 percent in the first quarter to $605 million.

Cymbalta's 2007 sales represented a 60 percent increase over 2006. That year, the drug notched $1.3 billion in sales, a 94 percent increase over 2005.

Fibromyalgia affects about 5 million Americans. Researchers believe its cause may be related to genetics, stress and changes in brain and spinal cord chemistry and that it leads to increased pain sensitivity.

Federal regulators also are expected to decide the fate of the cardio drug prasugrel later this month or early next month. Lilly developed the drug with Japan's Daiichi Sankyo Co., and some analysts following the drug maker expect it to generate at least $600 million in annual revenue.

Despite the Cymbalta news, Lilly shares slipped 48 cents, or 1 percent, to close at $47.85 in trading Monday.