End of the road for Merck's anacetrapib

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) said it will not seek regulatory approval of anacetrapib (MK-0859) to treat coronary heart disease (CHD). Anacetrapib is a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor.

Although anacetrapib met the primary endpoint in the Phase III REVEAL trial to reduce major coronary events, its clinical benefit fell short of what some clinicians had hoped for. Data released in August revealed that anacetrapib reduced the composite risk of coronary death, myocardial infarction (MI) or coronary revascularization by 9% vs. placebo. Previously, 3 cardiologists told BioCentury that a ≥10% risk reduction would be needed before clinicians would consider using anacetrapib over generic ezetimibe (see BioCentury, Sept. 1)...