Warnings, COLUMNS-Drugs & Supplements, July 2004

Bristol-Myers Advises On Serzone® Antidepressant

PRINCETON, N.J. - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. sent a written advisory to healthcare providers on June 18 saying it wanted to reinforce its belief that a risk-benefit analysis should be undertaken whenever Serzone is prescribed for depression.

Bristol-Myers said it has included the advisory in new warning labels, along with new language requested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urging healthcare providers to monitor patients who are newly prescribed antidepressants.

The letter came from Bristol-Myer's Senior Vice-President for U.S. Medical Affairs, Freda C. Lewis-Hall, M.D.

The letter containing the text of a revised statement under …