Merck discontinuing odanacatib

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said it is discontinuing development of odanacatib (formerly MK-0822) and will not seek regulatory approval of the cathepsin K inhibitor, which had completed Phase III testing for osteoporosis.

The pharma previously reported that odanacatib met the co-primary endpoints in the pivotal Phase III LOFT study in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, but also showed numerically more adjudicated stroke events than placebo. On Friday, Merck said an independent adjudication and analysis of major adverse CV events confirmed an increased risk of stroke with odanacatib. ...