Pfizer's Toviaz safe, effective in treating overactive bladder in elderly patients

NEW YORK — A drug made by Pfizer appears to work in treating symptoms of overactive bladder in elderly patients, according to results of a clinical trial released Monday.



Pfizer said that results of study A0221049 of the drug Toviaz (fesoterodine fumarate) worked better than placebo in reducing the number of urgency urinary incontinence episodes. The 12-week study enrolled 562 elderly people in the United States. The drug already has Food and Drug Administration approval for treating overactive bladder.



"For older individuals with overactive bladder, incontinence accompanied by urgency is the symptom that is most bothersome and embarrassing and greatly impacts their overall quality of life," said Steven Romano, Pfizer SVP and head of the medicines development group of the company's global primary care business unit. "Importantly, this was the first study of any antimuscarinic agent to demonstrate efficacy and safety in the rapidly growing population of medically vulnerable seniors who struggle with overactive bladder."

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