Merck pulling CV drug Tredaptive

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said it will suspend the worldwide availability of Tredaptive. The move follows the release of data late last year from the investigator-led Phase III HPS2-THRIVE trial that showed the cardiovascular drug plus statin therapy failed to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events and also increased the incidence of non-fatal serious adverse events. Separately, EMA's Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee recommended suspending marketing authorization of Tredaptive in the EU; a final decision from EMA's CHMP is expected this month. EMA began reviewing Tredaptive in December following the HPS2-THRIVE data (see BioCentury Extra, Dec. 21, 2012). ...