What's next in diabetes
In the wake of the latest setback to Ergo Science Corp.'s program for Ergoset bromocriptine, the uncertainties surrounding biotechnology products for diabetes may leave pharma company products in the best position to provide near-term benefits to patients. ERGO (Boston, Mass.) last week was dropped by marketing partner Johnson & Johnson after earlier receiving a nonapprovable letter for Ergoset from the FDA. Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AMLN, San Diego, Calif.), also dropped by J&J, has equivocal Phase III data for its pramlintide amylin hormone analog. And Alteon Inc. (ALTN, Ramsey, N.J.) has failed to reach statistical significance in two Phase III trials of its Pimagedine aminoguanidine inhibitor of advanced glycosylation end products.
Meanwhile, other biotech products such as Genentech Inc.'s (GNE, South San Francisco, Calif.) insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and Trega Biosciences Inc.'s (TRGA, San Diego, Calif.) HP 228 melanocortin receptor agonist have been discontinued in diabetes...