Health Highlights: Jan. 6, 2010

Jan. 7 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

FDA Cancels Cymbalta Meeting

A meeting to consider an application to use the antidepressant Cymbalta to treat chronic pain has been canceled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because it wants time to review new information about the proposed use.

The meeting to review drug maker Eli Lilly & Co.'s application had been scheduled for Jan. 28, the Associated Press reported.

In November 2008, Lilly withdrew an application after FDA reviewers raised questions about the methodology and dosing in some of the company's clinical trials.

A new application submitted by Lilly last summer included data from studies on using Cymbalta to treat chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis and lower back pain, the AP reported.

Currently, the drug is approved in the United States for treatment of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, nerve pain and the pain condition fibromyalgia.

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No Proof Virus Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Study

There's no evidence that a virus called XMRV causes chronic fatigue syndrome, says a British study that challenges recent research suggesting the virus could be responsible for the debilitating condition.

Imperial College London researchers analyzed blood samples from 186 patients with CFS and found that none of them had the virus, BBC News reported.

"We are confident that are results show there is no link between XMRV and chronic fatigue syndrome, at least in the U.K.," said investigator Professor Myra McClure.

Experts said the study findings, published in the journal PLoS One, will be bitterly disappointing to many patients who'd pinned their hopes on drugs to fight XMRV, BBC News reported.

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Full-Body Airport Scanners No Health Threat: Experts