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.
