Pfizer received approval for Lyrica capsules for the management of fibromyalgia, a chronic, widespread pain condition affecting more than six million Americans. Characterized by relentless chronic pain, fibromyalgia is usually accompanied by poor sleep, stiffness and fatigue, deep tenderness, soreness and flu-like aching.

Fibromyalgia is thought to result from neurological changes in how patients perceive pain, specifically a heightened sensitivity to stimuli that are not normally painful. Lyrica binds to a specific protein within overexcited nerve cells and works to calm damaged nerves. This is thought to reduce the level of pain in patients suffering from fibromyalgia, although the exact mechanism of how Lyrica acts in fibromyalgia is not known.

In the clinical trials, Lyrica demonstrated rapid and sustained improvements in pain compared with placebo. In addition, patients taking Lyrica reported feeling better and improvements in physical function.