Danish drugmaker Lundbeck has received European Union approval for Selincro, its innovative drug to fight alcohol dependency, a small boost in its fight against falling sales and heavy investment in new products. The EU decision, which follows a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency in December, will allow Lundbeck to launch the drug on the market in mid-2013, the company said on Thursday. “Lundbeck will provide Selincro as part of a novel treatment concept that includes continuous psychosocial support focused on the reduction of alcohol consumption,” the company said. The drug has been developed as a one-a-day tablet to be taken as required on days when the patient feels he or she is at risk of drinking. Selincro, which blocks the action of opioid receptors in the brain, was licensed to Lundbeck from Finland’s Biotie Therapies .
