Florence, Italy, 10th October 2003 -- Darifenacin, a new oral treatment for overactive bladder (OAB), has the potential to prolong "warning time" the period between the first sensation of urgency and micturition in patients experiencing OAB syndrome. This is according to data presented at the International Continence Society's 33rd Annual Congress in Florence, Italy1. Darifenacin is a new treatment option and the first M3 selective receptor antagonist (M3 SRA) currently awaiting regulatory approval in the US and Europe.

As presented by Linda Cardozo, Professor in Urogynaecology at Kings College Hospital London, urgency was reported as being one of the most distressing symptoms for patients with overactive bladder syndrome. It was suggested that, as a result, people who suffer symptoms of an overactive bladder often have a very limited social and personal life with increased psychological problems. Any help in prolonging the warning time between urgency and the embarrassment of incontinence helps the sufferer to lead a more normal life.

The multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study, evaluated the change in warning time of 72 patients either receiving darifenacin 30mg daily or placebo. After two weeks of treatment, patients using darifenacin showed a significant improvement in median warning time of 4.3 minutes compared with patients in the placebo group. This change represented a 22.5% increase in mean warning time for patients taking darifenacin1.

Overactive bladder is a very common condition, estimated to affect 16.5% of the worldwide adult population. Symptoms of OAB affect both sexes and increase with age - as many as 30 to 50 % of women over the age of 50 are estimated to suffer from the symptoms. In many patients, a specific cause cannot be identified. Many do not seek medical help (50-75%) and of those, who have sought medical help, 80% do not receive treatment.

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Contact: Dianne Burrows
dianne.burrows@ketchum.com
020-7611-3520
Ketchum
13-Oct-2003

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