Merck Abandons Development of Migraine Drug

Merck announced today that it was abandoning development of telcagepant, a once-promising drug designed to treat acute migraines. The announcement, which was included in the company’s quarterly earnings release, explained that the decision was based in part on results of a recently completed Phase III trial of the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist.

The company did not specify what was unsatisfactory about the trial results. However, after the drug produced largely promising results in earlier trials, the company delayed a planned 2009 submission for FDA approval when elevated liver enzyme levels were found in patients who had taken it. A similar problem with elevated liver enzyme levels were part of the reason Merck abandoned development of another migraine drug, MK-3207, two years ago.

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