(AP) -- Federal regulators have accepted an application for a depression drug marketed by Clinical Data Inc., the company said Monday.
The acceptance of vilazodone, officially made Friday by the Food and Drug Administration, triggered a $15.6 million payment by Clinical Data to Merck Serono, which developed the drug.
In June 2009, Clinical Data said vilazodone met its goals in a late-stage clinical trial as a treatment for major depressive disorder.
Merck Serono is a unit of German drug maker Merck KGaA, and is not connected to New Jersey-based Merck and Co.
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