The study showed that levomilnacipran considerably reduced depression symptoms in MDD patients compared to placebo and further analyses of the data are ongoing.
The companies expect to file a new drug application in the third quarter of 2012 with the FDA.
Forest Research Institute President, R&D senior vice president Marco Taglietti Marco Taglietti said, "This third Phase III study further reinforces the potential of levomilnacipran as an effective treatment option for adults with MDD."
Pierre Fabre pharmaceutical division president Frederic Duchesne said, "These results confirm the relevance of our strategic choice to make neuropsychiatry a major focus of Pierre Fabre R&D."
Levomilnacipran (1S, 2R-milnacipran), an enantiomer of racemic milnacipran, has greater potency for norepinephrine reuptake inhibition than for serotonin reuptake inhibition in vitro without directly affecting the uptake of dopamine or other neurotransmitters.