The Food and Drug Administration has approved the study of antipsychotic drug Abilify (aripiprazole) for the treatment of manic and mixed episodes due to bipolar I disorder in children ages 10 to 17. Abilify is already used to treat bipolar disease in adults.
Abilify was discovered by Japan-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., which has an agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. to co-promote the drug in the US until 2012. The Supplemental New Drug Application reflects an increased off-label use of the drug in older children for behavioral issues.
