WSJ health blog: Merck Scratches Controversial Obesity Drug

[antigop]

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/10/02/merck-scratches-controverisal-obesity-drug/

Another late-stage drug from Big Pharma bites the dust. This time it’s Merck canceling the experimental obesity pill taranabant.

In a skinny statement this morning, the drugmaker said it won’t ask regulators to approve the drug and is killing the project, which was in phase III. The reason for move: At more effective doses, the drug also caused more adverse reactions.

The drug, like Sanofi-Aventis’s rimonabant (sold as Acomplia overseas), suppresses appetite by calming certain brain receptors that happen to be some of the same ones stimulated by marijuana. Munchies, anyone?

The problem for these so-called cannabinoid-receptor drugs are the psychiatric side effects, including depression and suicidal thinking. Taranabant studies showed an increase in anxiety, irritability and depressed mood.

The Merck drug seemed a long shot for approval given the tough times for rimonabant, which was to be sold in the U.S. as Zimulti. Sanofi withdrew its application for FDA approval of rimonabant for obesity and said it plans to come back next year with a slimmed-down request for the medicine as a treatment of diabetes.

[soleft]

1. I pass the Merck campus every day on the train - that place is massive

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. but if Merck has it, it must be good

How dare you post an article that is negative about Merck!

:sarcasm:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. How is it negative about Merck? It shows them doing the responsible thing.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

3. But if thi swere a vaccine, it would be perfect

there could be nothing wrong with it at all!

[xchrom]

4. hey your 'superstition' is showing -- seriously.

like underwear on those baggy jeans guys.

[cosmik debris]

5. I guess that disproves the crack pot notion that Merck is running the show.

All the Merck-haters who are always whining about the overwhelming influence of Merck must be wrong if Merck won't even ask for regulatory approval. If Merck was really manipulating the studies this would have made it to the market.

So next time the conspiracy theorists start to gripe about Merck, this will be good evidence to show that they are full of shit.

:rofl:

[groovysadgesun]

6. So does that mean that Merck makes wonderful, health-enhancing products?

I am against pharmaceuticals. Period. The bombardment during the evening news shows is criminal, IMO.

[cosmik debris]

7. Pharmaceuticals have saved millions of lives. Period.

I don't understand why you would be against those people having happy healthy lives. But that certainly seems like a crazy idea to me.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

8. Groovie's time here has passed.

[cosmik debris]

10. And pharmaceuticals could not save her. n/t

[dropkickpa]

11. Teh gardasil got her!

[Dorian Gray]

12. How can you be

"against pharmaceuticals. Period." ????

Though they may do thinks controversially and questionably at times, they've also come up with ground breaking drugs that have helped eradicate and eliminate certain diseases.

There is a middle ground here.