BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product Development

Sitaxsentan: Waiting for efficacy

July 29, 2002 7:00 AM UTC

It's too early to jump to conclusions about the meaning of the liver abnormalities seen in trials of sitaxsentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist being developed by Texas Biotechnology Corp. and partner Icos Corp. to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The side effect appears to be endemic to this class of compounds, and the real decision will come in the fourth quarter when the companies have efficacy data that will enable them to weigh the risk-benefit of the molecule.

TXBI (Houston, Texas) and ICOS (Bothell, Wash.) last week ended an extension study of their Phase IIb/III STRIDE trial of sitaxsentan for ethical reasons. The trial, which has completed enrollment of 180 patients, will continue...