H. Lundbeck A/S
European launch of Brintellix commences in Denmark

DGAP-News: H. Lundbeck A/S

16.09.2014 / 08:00

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Brintellix is launched as the first new antidepressant drug in five years in
Denmark and will be introduced in several other European and International
Markets during 2014 and 2015. 

Valby, 2014-09-16 08:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) has now started the launch
of its novel antidepressant Brintellix (vortioxetine) in Denmark. This marks
the first European launch and thereby the next step in the global introduction
of Brintellix, which was commercially launched in the US in January 2014.
Following the Danish launch, Brintellix, which is approved for treatment of
major depressive episodes (MDE, hereafter referred to as 'depression') in
adults, will be introduced in several other European and International Markets
during 2014 and 2015. 

This is
the first time in five years that a new antidepressant drug becomes available
in Denmark where 150,000 people suffer from depression[i]. Brintellix
will be available and reimbursed in Denmark as second line treatment for
depression, in line with the reimbursement dossier submitted and approved by
Danish health authorities. 

Brintellix is a novel multimodal antidepressant, which has
demonstrated significant efficacy in adult patients with depression as measured
by traditional scales like MADRS or HAMD. It has also demonstrated improvement
of cognitive performance in adult patients with depression, as measured with
neuropsychological tests, as e.g. DSST or RAVLT[ii].  Cognitive
symptoms are part of the diagnostic criteria for depression, and include the
ability to concentrate, make decisions and the ability to remember[iii]. Cognitive
symptoms are both part of the acute depressive episode as well as often being a
residual symptom of depression[iv]. This means
that patients with depression may have difficulties performing their duties at
work. As a lot of people with depression are working, this loss of productivity
is very costly for the society[v]. 

'When someone suffers from depression, the daily life
of that person is severely affected, at home and in the workplace. Depression
is a complex disease that involves mood, physical and cognitive symptoms. We
are pleased to be able to offer a new treatment option to patients with
depression,' says Ole Chrintz, Group Senior
Vice President of International Markets and Europe at
Lundbeck. 

About Brintellix
(vortioxetine) 

Brintellix is an inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) reuptake and is
also an agonist at 5-HT1A receptors, a partial agonist at 5-HT1B receptors and
an antagonist at 5-HT3, 5-HT1D and 5-HT7 receptors. Brintellix is considered to
be the first and only compound with this combination of pharmacodynamic
activity, although the mechanism of the antidepressant effect of Brintellix is
not fully understood. 

Vortioxetine was discovered by Lundbeck researchers in Copenhagen,
Denmark. The clinical trial program in the U.S. was conducted jointly by
Lundbeck and Takeda, and Takeda holds marketing authorization for the U.S.
market. Brintellix is a trademark of H. Lundbeck A/S and is used under license
by Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. 

The
World Health Organization has issued an Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC)
code for Brintellix(R) that places it in the category of 'Other'
antidepressants. 

About Lundbeck 

H.
Lundbeck A/S (LUN.CO, LUN DC, HLUYY) is a global pharmaceutical company
specialized in brain diseases. For more than 50 years, we have been at the
forefront of research within neuroscience. Our key areas of focus are alcohol
dependence, Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, depression/anxiety,
epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, stroke and
symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). 

An
estimated 700 million people worldwide are living with brain disease and far
too many suffer due to inadequate treatment, discrimination, a reduced number
of working days, early retirement and other unnecessary consequences. Every
day, we strive for improved treatment and a better life for people living with
brain disease - we call this Progress in Mind. 

Read
more at www.lundbeck.com/global/about-us/progress-in-mind. 

Our
approximately 6,000 employees in 57 countries are engaged in the entire value
chain throughout research, development, production, marketing and sales. Our
pipeline consists of several late-stage development programmes and our products
are available in more 100 countries. We have research centres in China, Denmark
and the United States and production facilities in China, Denmark, France and
Italy. Lundbeck generated revenue of approximately DKK15.3 billion in 2013
(EUR2.1 billion; USD2.7 billion). 

For
additional information, we encourage you to visit our corporate site
www.lundbeck.com. 

Contacts

Mads
Kronborg, Director, Media Relations         Lars Otto Andersen-Lange, Media
Relations 

Telephone (direct): +45 36 43 28 51                  Telephone
(direct): +45 36 43 26 57 



[i]Danish Health and Medicines
Authority,2012. 


[ii]EPAR and
McIntyre R.S., Lophaven S and Olsen C. K. (2014) A randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study of vortioxetine on cognitive function in depressed
adults. Intl J Neuropsychopharmacol 17 (10): 1557 - 1567. 
 

[iii]Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
5th Edition (DSM-5). 
 

[iv]McClintock SM et al. (2011) Residual symptoms in
depressed outpatients who respond by 50% but do not remit to antidepressant
medication. J Clin Psychophamacol. 31(2):180-186. 
 

[v]McIntyre
R.S. et al. (2013) Cognitive deficits and functional outcomes in Major
Depressive Disoprder: Determinants, substrates, and treatment interventions.
Depress. Anxiety, 30: 515-527. 
News Source: NASDAQ OMX



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Language:    English          
Company:     H. Lundbeck A/S  
 
 
             Denmark          
ISIN:        DK0010287234     
 
 
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