Orals on the sidelines

Platelet Plumbing

Of five oral GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors that entered clinical development, only two are still kicking. F. Hoffmann-La Roche discontinued development of its Xubix sibrafiban and G.D. Searle & Co. (Skokie, Ill.) discontinued its xemilofiban and orofiban in 1999 due to a lack of efficacy in their respective Phase III trials (see BioCentury, Aug. 16, 1999). Since that time, concern has been generated over the safety of the oral inhibitors as well as the lack of efficacy...