USFDA staff flags concerns about Merck chronic cough drug
Staff assessment of the data submitted by Merck showed a small reduction in cough frequency and side effects such as loss of taste in patients who were administered the drug.;
The U.S. health regulator's staff on Wednesday flagged concerns that data on Merck's chronic cough drug might not be enough to prove the treatment's meaningful benefit, documents released ahead of a meeting of independent experts showed.
The drugmaker's shares were marginally down in afternoon trade.
The concerns were raised after the company had submitted additional efficacy data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which declined to approve the drug in January last year.
A panel of expert advisers to the FDA is set to meet on Friday to discuss the efficacy of Merck's drug gefapixant.
Staff assessment of the data submitted by Merck showed a small reduction in cough frequency and side effects such as loss of taste in patients who were administered the drug.
There are low expectations for the drug candidate based on efficacy and side effects, Mizuho analyst Mara Goldstein said, adding that it would not be surprising if the drug did not have a positive outcome.
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