Stroke risk forces Merck to scrap its long-neglected PhIII osteoporosis drug odanacatib
Merck is scrapping its Phase III osteoporosis drug odanacatib after concluding that the drug increased the risk of strokes among patients taking the drug.
In a statement early Friday, Merck noted it had “previously reported a numeric imbalance in adjudicated stroke events in the pivotal Phase 3 fracture outcomes study in postmenopausal women. The company has decided to discontinue development after an independent adjudication and analysis of major adverse cardiovascular events confirmed an increased risk of stroke.”
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