Gilead Sciences has reportedly called time on the diuretic cicletanine after it failed to hit targets in a mid-stage trial assessing its potential in high blood pressure.
The Phase II, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, dose-ranging study was looking at the efficacy, safety and tolerability of cicletanine compared with placebo in subjects with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
However, it failed to reach the primary endpoint - the change from baseline in six minutes of walking after 12 weeks of treatment - and has been listed as 'discontinued' on the clinicaltrials.gov website.
Consequently, Gilead is discontinuing its development of the drug, reports Dow Jones.
The biotech snapped up cicletanine - which was developed by French drugmaker Ipsen - for an upfront payment of $10.9 million from Navitas Assets back in 2008.
Italian drugmaker Recordati sells cicletanine for hypertension in France under the brand name Tenstaten.
The views expressed in the following comments are not those of PharmaTimes or any connected third party and belong specifically to the individual who made that comment. We accept no liability for the comments made and always advise users to exercise caution.