Merck and partner H. Lundbeck have discontinued their development program for gaboxadol, an insomnia treatment currently in Phase III testing. The drugmakers cited poor results from a recent Phase III study as their reason for walking away from the program. The companies had originally planned to file an NDA in mid-2007. "The termination of our joint insomnia development program with Lundbeck is clearly disappointing," said Dr. Peter S. Kim, president of Merck Research Laboratories. "Although Merck will not be continuing with the clinical development program for gaboxadol for the treatment of insomnia, we remain committed to our neuroscience and sleep disorders research program, one of nine priority disease areas for research and product development."
- see the press release [1] for details
ALSO: Merck has won the latest round in the Vioxx battle. Article [2] (WSJ sub req.)
Related Articles:
New timeline for gaboxadol. Report [3]
New sleep drug scores high in Phase II trial. Report [4]
Teva, H. Lundbeck stop work on oral Copaxone. Report [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/node/6229
[2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117500823992750451.html?mod=health_home_stories
[3] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/also-noted-new-timeline-for-gaboxadol-boehringer-to-buy-zantac-and-much-mor/2006-10-13
[4] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/new-sleep-drug-scores-high-in-phase-ii-trial/2005-06-23
[5] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/teva-h-lundbeck-stop-work-on-oral-copaxone/2006-03-21