FDA approves the sale of new anti-depressant

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration approved sale of a new anti-depressant for adults on Wednesday. Called Cymbalta, it should be on pharmacy shelves by late month.

Maker Eli Lilly & Co. is banking on Cymbalta as a successor to its once-blockbuster Prozac. Cymbalta, known chemically as duloxetine, is one of a newer class of anti-depressants that targets two brain chemicals involved in depression, serotonin and norepinephrine.

It's the first anti-depressant to hit the market since the FDA began investigating whether such drugs sometimes can increase the risk of suicide, particularly when used by teenagers, or if patients' underlying depression is to blame.