United Therapeutics slips on oral treprostinil news

United Therapeutics Corp. (NASDAQ:UTHR) slipped $12.70 (10%) to $120.82 on Friday after announcing that Orenitram (UT-15C), its sustained-release oral formulation of treprostinil, did not meet the threshold for stopping the PHASE III FREEDOM-EV trial early at a pre-planned interim analysis. FREEDOM-EV is evaluating Orenitram in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients receiving background oral monotherapy. An IDMC did not identify any safety concerns with Orenitram, and recommended continuing the study without modification.

United Therapeutics said the threshold for stopping the trial early was "intentionally set high." The interim review was conducted after about 75% of the targeted 205 clinical worsening events occurred in the study...