Medicines Co. ending CV program MDCO-216

The Medicines Co. (NASDAQ:MDCO) said it will discontinue development of MDCO-216 after it failed to show efficacy at reducing intracoronary atherosclerotic plaque burden in the proof-of-concept Phase I/II MILANO-PILOT study, which enrolled patients with acute coronary syndrome. The candidate is a complex of dimeric recombinant apolipoprotein A-1 Milano and a phospholipid.

The company said it will reallocate "substantial additional capital" to develop its PCSK9si (ALN-PCSsc) program, for which it has exclusive, worldwide rights from partner Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:ALNY). Last month, Medicines Co. announced interim data from the Phase II ORION-1 study showing that PCSK9si led to significant and durable low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reductions in certain patients with atherosclerotic CV disease or similar risks...