https://www.statnews.com/2020/09/08/merck-chronic-cough-drug-shows-mixed-results-in-late-stage-clinical-trials-raising-questions-about-its-future/?utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&utm_campaign=d65d996d15-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_09_08_09_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-d65d996d15-149692869

Merck’s lukewarm cough drug results

Merck’s experimental chronic cough medicine has showed some efficacy in Phase 3 trials — but the benefit was marginal, and most patients were unhappy that the drug, gefapixant, altered their sense of taste. This mixed data — and the fact that many patients discontinued the medication — suggests that rivals like Bayer, Shionogi, and Bellus may be able to gain ground in the chronic cough space. 

“I’d imagine that Merck is disappointed,” one ENT expert told STAT’s Adam Feuerstein. “While results look good in a vacuum, they’re barely better than placebo when compared to this control group.” 

However, he added that “the spin, I think, is that the class of drugs is promising,” and that there’s potential to evolve in this space. 

Read more.