Denmark's Lundbeck says it is ready to start Phase III trials for nalmefene, a drug designed to treat alcohol dependency. The developer says that it plans to recruit 1,800 patients for three late-stage studies. Biotie Therapies originally developed the drug, an opioid receptor antagonist.
The drug is intended to eliminate a desire to drink more, rather than prevent a desire to drink at all. Nalmefene should significantly limit both the patient's average alcohol intake and the number of days with an intake above five units of alcohol. That should translate into a sharp reduction in patients' risk of developing diseases such as various cancers, cardiovascular diseases and cirrhosis of the liver. Previous trials have also shown nalmefene to be well-tolerated and safe.
"We are pleased with Lundbeck's commitment with nalmefene and believe that Lundbeck, with its impressive track record in the CNS space, is an ideal partner for us in the continuing development and ultimately commercialisation of nalmefene. We remain confident that nalmefene will generate significant revenues to the company in the long term," says Timo Veromaa, CEO of Biotie Therapies Corp.
- read the Lundbeck release