Merck is looking to succeed where Pfizer so spectacularly failed [1]. Merck presented positive Phase II data for its CTEP inhibitor anacetrapib, a drug designed to increase good cholesterol and decrease bad cholesterol. Anacetrapib significantly reduced LDL-cholesterol and Apolipoprotein B and increased HDL-cholesterol and Apolipoprotein A-1 both as monotherapy and in combination with Lipitor compared to placebo.
The key, of course, is creating a drug that doesn't increase blood pressure--the side effect that led to torcetrapib's demise [2]. The question regulators will want answered is whether the mortality associated torcetrapib is common to the entire class of CTEP inhibitors. Roche is also developing a Phase II CETP-Inhibitor, R1658. Merck plans to evaluate what went wrong with torcetrapib before proceeding with the next stage of testing. Analysts estimate the market for such a drug could be $15 billion dollars.
- see this release [3] on the data from Merck
- read the Star-Ledger article [4] for more
Related Articles:
Merck's CETP program advances--with caution. Report [5]
Merck scores high in race for cholesterol drug. Report [6]
Pfizer halts Torcetrapib development. Report [1]
Session to detail torcetrapib's stunning failure. Report [7]
Links:
[1] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/pfizer-halts-torcetrapib-development/2006-12-04
[2] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/data-suggests-torcetrapib-raises-blood-pressure/2006-11-01
[3] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/press-releases/press-release-merck-s-anacetrapib-produced-positive-effects-lipids
[4] http://www.nj.com/business/ledger/index.ssf?/base/business-7/1191559704217180.xml&coll=1
[5] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/merck-s-cetp-program-advances--with-caution/2006-12-13
[6] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/merck-scores-high-race-cholesterol-drug/2007-09-04
[7] http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/session-to-detail-torcetrapib-s-stunning-failure/2007-03-19