Lundbeck Launches Selincro as First Alcohol Dependence Drug in Europe

Lundbeck has launched Selincro in Norway, Finland, Poland and the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia for the treatment of alcohol dependence in patients with high-risk drinking levels. According to Lundbeck, the launch marks the first introduction of a new treatment for alcohol dependence in Europe for more than a decade. Additional launches in other countries are expected to follow later in 2013 and 2014.

Selincro (nalmefene) was granted marketing approval by the European Commission in March 2013 for the reduction of alcohol consumption in adult patients with alcohol dependence who have a high risk drinking level (>60g/day for men, >40g/day for women) without physical withdrawal symptoms and who do not require immediate detoxification. Clinical trials demonstrated that Selincro reduced alcohol consumption by approximately 60% after six months treatment.

Lundbeck announced in its press release that this is the first and only medicine approved for the reduction of alcohol consumption in patients with alcohol dependence. "We are proud to make Selincro available to patients suffering from alcohol dependence. This is an area with significant unmet medical needs, and we are excited about introducing an innovative treatment concept that provides a new and different option for patients who may otherwise not seek treatment," said Ole Chrintz, the company’s senior vice president of international markets and Europe.