Oct 17 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has

approved Avadel Pharmaceuticals' ( AVDL ) sleep disorder drug

for children aged 7 years and older, broadening its use and

heating up competition for widely used treatments from Jazz

Pharma.

Avadel said on Thursday the drug, called Lumryz, was now

approved to treat pediatric patients with sudden muscle weakness

called cataplexy or for excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). It

was approved for adults in 2023.