Palatin genitourinary, cardiovascular, endocrine news

Palatin reduced headcount by about 19 (30%) to about 45 as part of the restructuring it began last September (see BioCentury, Oct. 1, 2007). Palatin discontinued development of bremelanotide to treat male and female sexual dysfunction. The restructuring followed a response from FDA last August that raised “serious concerns about the acceptable benefit/risk ratio” to support advancing the melanocortin receptor 4 (MCR4) agonist into Phase III testing for use as first-line therapy to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). The company will continue to develop bremelanotide to treat hemorrhagic shock and related indications, for which the compound is in preclinical testing (see BioCentury, Sept. 3, 2007). ...