AstraZeneca seeks U.S. approval of Seroquel XR for generalised anxiety disorder

LONDON (Thomson Financial) - AstraZeneca Plc, the UK's second largest drugmaker, has applied for approval to market its Seroquel XR schizophrenia treatment for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in the United States.

The Anglo/Swedish company said it is the first time that approval has been sought for an atypical anti-psychotic medicine to treat GAD.

GAD, which affects approximately 6.8 million adults in the U.S., is characterised by persistent anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension. GAD is diagnosed when someone excessively worries about a number of everyday problems for at least six months, the company said.

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