WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today provided an update on the clinical program for preladenant, Mercks investigational adenosine A2A receptor antagonist for the treatment of Parkinsons disease (PD). An initial review of data from three separate Phase III trials did not provide evidence of efficacy for preladenant compared with placebo. Based on these results, Merck is taking steps to discontinue the extension phases of these studies and no longer plans to pursue regulatory filings for preladenant. The decision to discontinue these studies is not based on any safety finding. The results of these studies will be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. While these results are disappointing, this program is an important example of Mercks continued commitment to pursue promising science with the goal of bringing forward medicines that address important unmet medical needs, said David Michelson, M.D., vice president, clinical research, Neuroscience and Ophthalmology at Merck Research Laboratories. Parkinsons disease is very complex, making it difficult to treat patients and develop novel therapeutic approaches. We are committed to neuroscience research and will be conducting further analyses of the data … Continue reading →

Merck & Co. (MRK) said it will end development of the experimental drug preladenant for Parkinsons disease because a preliminary review of the data from late-stage clinical trials suggests it doesnt work. The drugmaker said it will stop the extension portions of the trials and no longer plans to file for marketing approval of the medicine. There were two studies that added preladenant to levodopa, the standard treatment for Parkinsons disease, and one that tested it as stand-alone care, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based Merck said in a statement. While these results are disappointing, this program is an important example of Mercks continued commitment to pursue promising science with the goal of bringing forward medicines that address important unmet medical needs, said David Michelson, vice president of clinical research in neuroscience at Merck Research Laboratories. The company is committed to working on complex diseases and neuroscience research, he said in a statement. The company will conduct additional analyses of the results and present them at a future medical meeting, he said. Preladenant was forecast to generate $211 million in 2016 and $271 million in 2017, according to the average of three analysts estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Parkinsons is a progressive neurological … Continue reading →

By RTT News, May 24, 2013, 01:43:00 AM EDT (RTTNews.com) - Merck ( MRK ) Thursday announced the discontinuation of the extension phases of its studies on investigational adenosine A2A receptor antagonist for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, as initial review of data from three Phase III trials did not provide evidence of efficacy for preladenant compared with placebo. Issuing an update on the clinical program for preladenant, Merck said it no longer plans to pursue regulatory filings for preladenant. The decision to discontinue is not based on any safety finding. The results of these studies will be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The Phase III clinical program for preladenant included three randomized, controlled clinical trials to evaluate safety and efficacy. Two of these studies assessed preladenant when added to levodopa therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe PD. The remaining one assessed preladenant as monotherapy in early PD. David Michelson, vice president, clinical research, Neuroscience and Ophthalmology at Merck Research Laboratories, said, ''While these results are disappointing, this program is an important example of Merck's continued commitment to pursue promising science with the goal of bringing forward medicines that address … Continue reading →