A second experimental cholesterol medicine in a once-promising class of
drugs meant to replace blockbusters such as Lipitor has failed in
testing, casting doubt on whether any of the drugs will ever make it to
pharmacies.
Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said it has halted testing of its dalcetrapib (see structure), which the company had hoped would become a blockbuster, with eventual annual sales of more than $1 billion. The drug was in expensive late-stage patient testing as a treatment to raise HDL, or so-called good cholesterol, in heart disease patients.
Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said it has halted testing of its dalcetrapib (see structure), which the company had hoped would become a blockbuster, with eventual annual sales of more than $1 billion. The drug was in expensive late-stage patient testing as a treatment to raise HDL, or so-called good cholesterol, in heart disease patients.
Basel-based Roche said it decided to pull the plug on the recommendation of its independent data and safety monitoring board after an interim analysis, in a study called dal-OUTCOMES, found no "clinically meaningful" benefit.
Ref : http://www.roche.com/media/media_releases/med-cor-2012-05-07.htm
