RIP: AstraZeneca clips two pipeline programs in Q2

Every quarter AstraZeneca ($AZN) notes at the end of its financial report which of its new drug programs are being discarded and dropped from the pipeline. And it was no great surprise to see that efforts for selumetinib and tenapanor are being trimmed. Selumetinib failed a key study for uveal melanoma, though the pharma giant still has high hopes for the therapy in other designations. Tenapanor failed a Phase IIb study intended to demonstrate its ability to clear sodium from gastrointestinal tracts. That prompted AstraZeneca to bow out, with its biotech partner Ardelyx buying back the rights to the drug as it planned to go ahead with a late-stage trial. Release (PDF)