Medicines Co. tumbles on stopped trials

The Medicines Co. (NASDAQ:MDCO) fell $4.12 (37%) to $7.02 on Wednesday after the company said it is discontinuing its Phase III CHAMPION program of cangrelor in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The announcement came after an independent review committee said the CHAMPION-PLATFORM trial of the reversible ADP receptor antagonist would not demonstrate efficacy necessary for regulatory approval. The placebo-controlled, double-blind, international study was evaluating cangrelor plus standard care compared with standard care alone in 5,312 patients undergoing PCI.

The review committee also said cangrelor showed no significant differences vs. Plavix clopidogrel in the CHAMPION-PCI trial. The committee recommended discontinuing the double-blind, international trial in 8,820 patients. ...