MSD ‘to present Cordaptive data at scientific meetings’

Merck, Sharp and Dohme (MSD) has reported that it is to present phase III clinical trial data for Cordaptive (ER niacin/laropiprant) as a monotherapy or in conjunction with a statin as a treatment for conditions associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

The firm notes that this data supports the use of the compound as a treatment for elevated levels of triglycerides, as well as high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol levels.

While niacin is recognised by clinicians to be an effective lipid-modifying treatment, its use has been limited by the adverse affect of flushing, which the innovative flushing pathway inhibitor of laropiprant aims to reduce.

MSD reports that the compound has been accepted for a standard review by the US Food and Drug Administration, with the company expecting a response from the regulator during the second quarter of 2008.

“The company expects to present phase III data for Cordaptive at both the September 2007 scientific meeting of the European Society of Cardiology and the November 2007 scientific meeting of the American Heart Association,” MSD said.

In November 2006, MSD reported the results of a clinical trial of the compound, then known as MK-052, with the DP1-receptor antagonist and extended-release niacin combination successfully reducing flushing in patients with dyslipidemia.