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J&J Wins Approval for a Schizophrenia Drug


Posted on 2006-12-20 13:47:00



Johnson & Johnson won federal approval Wednesday for a schizophrenia drug derived from another top-selling anti-psychotic medicine.

The Food and Drug Administration said Invega will add to the treatment options for the disabling mental disorder, which affects about 2 million Americans.

Invega, also called paliperidone, is derived from Risperdal. The body breaks down Risperdal to form paliperidone.

Unlike Risperdal, Invega will be sold in extended-release tablet form. The company didn't disclose the drug's cost, saying only that it would be priced competitively with other anti-psychotics.

Schizophrenia is marked by hallucinations, delusions, disordered thinking and movements and cognitive deficits, the FDA said.