The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Advisory Committee will discuss reports of the occurrence of suicidality (both suicidal ideation and suicide attempts) in clinical trials for various antidepressant drugs in pediatric patients with major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders. Preliminary risk data based on the classification of these adverse event reports by the pharmaceutical sponsors of these products were presented at the joint meeting of the Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pediatric Subcommittee of the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee held on February 2, 2004. Since that meeting, experts in pediatric suicidality, assembled by Columbia University, have independently classified these reported events, and FDA has conducted an analysis of these data. On September 13 and 14, 2004, the committees will consider the results of FDA's analysis of these independently classified events and will consider what further regulatory action may be needed with regard to the clinical use of these products in pediatric patients. The committees will also consider further research needs to address questions on this topic.

Interested persons may present data, information, or views, orally or in writing, on issues pending before the committee. Written submissions may be made to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Comments received by August 23, 2004, will be provided to the committee before the meeting. Comments received after August 23, 2004, will be reviewed by FDA's decision makers. Oral presentations from the public will be scheduled between approximately 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on September 13, 2004. Time allotted for each presentation may be limited. Those desiring to make formal oral presentations should notify the contact person before August 27, 2004, and submit a brief statement of the general nature of the evidence or arguments they wish to present, the names and addresses of proposed participants, and an indication of the approximate time requested to make their presentation.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at the Holiday Inn, Versailles Ballrooms, 8120 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: 301-652-2000

Contact Person: Anuja Patel, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (HFD-21), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane (for express delivery, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1093), Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-7001, FAX: 301-827-6776, e-mail: patelA@cder.fda.gov.

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