Merck Niacin Drug Failure Could Have Broad Repercussions |
| Forbes - Dec 20, 2012 |
Merck’s niacin-containing cholesterol drug, sold under the brand name Tredaptive in Europe but still considered experimental here in the U.S., failed to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and heart procedures in a large clinical trial, dashing any hope that the medicine would be approved. Worse, an “serious adverse event” cropped up, prompting Merck to instruct doctors in Europe not to start new patients on the drug. Merck said it plans to work with regulators around the world and the independent scientists who ran the clinical trial to decide what to do next.
This is the second study in which a prescription form of niacin has failed to prevent heart attacks and strokes. That is huge news because drugs containing this B vitamin have been used for decades to treat high cholesterol. What if all those patients got no benefit from their medicines? Even now, Niaspan, sold by Abbott Laboratories’ soon-to-be-spun-off AbbVie unit, generates $900 million in annual sales. That number will drop.
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- Posted: 2012-12-20 12:06:36
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