US Food and Drug Administration Approves New Seroquel Competitor

Washington, D.C.The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug that will compete with Seroquel, according to a press release.

Both the new medication, Latuda, and Seroquel are part of a class called atypical antipsychotic drugs typically used for treatment of schizophrenia.

"Schizophrenia can be a devastating illness requiring lifelong treatment. Some patients do not respond well to certain types of drug therapy, so it is important to have multiple treatment options available," said Dr. Thomas Laughren, director of the Division of Psychiatry Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

During clinical trials, the FDA found that taking Latuda resulted in fewer symptoms of schizophrenia over a six-week period than did taking a placebo. Side effects of the new drug included drowsiness, feelings of restlessness and the urge to move, nausea, movement abnormalities such as tremors, slow movement or muscle stiffness, and agitation.

The new drug on the market comes as Seroquel's manufacturer, AstraZeneca, is facing a slump in revenue amidst lawsuits over links between Seroquel and diabetes.