Jazz Pharma Says Pain Drug Can Treat Fibromyalgia

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Monday its a late-stage study suggests its drug candidate sodium oxybate, or JZP-6, can treat the pain condition fibromyalgia.

The Phase III study data was presented last week at the 2009 Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting in Seattle, the company said.

The 14-week study included 548 patients. More than half of the patients in the study had at least a 30 percent improvement in pain symptoms, the company said.

Jazz expects to ask for Food and Drug Administration approval by the and of the year.

Shares of Jazz Pharmaceuticals jumped 84 cents, or 32 percent, to $3.48 in premarket trading. The stock closed at $2.64 Friday.