QDIS Blog

Merck has said that they will not file an NDA for MK-0524B. It is being co-administered with simvastatin (Zocor ®).

Merck Revises Regulatory Filing Timeline for MK-0524B, an Investigational Fixed-Dose Combination of MK-0524A and Simvastatin: Financial News - Yahoo!

Although the clinical trial schedule has NOT changed, the filing will not take place in 2007 as previously planned.

MK-0524B is an extended release version of niacin along with a flushing inhibitor. Niacin use to be used before the statins came on the market for controlling cholesterol. It works by not only lowering the LDL but also raising the HDL (good cholesterol). The main problem was the flushing the niacin causes and many patients quite taking niacin because of this side effect. I personally take niacin (over-the counter; OTC) in a non-flushing formulation since my total cholesterol is low but my HDL is very low so the ratio is not what it should be. I’ve been taking 500 mg twice daily for about a year now and am interested to see what the cholesterol levels are next time they are checked.

It is interesting that Merck is not comparing their new drug against a cheap OTC non-fluhing formulation of niacin. It is interesting that the drug would appear to be a triple combination; MK-0582A (an extended release version of niacin), a DP-1 selective antagonist (prevents flushing) and simvastatin.

Further Information

• Merck Revises Regulatory Filing Timeline for MK-0524B, an Investigational Fixed-Dose Combination of MK-0524A and Simvastatin
• Merck MK-0524B - Yahoo! Search Results
• Yahoo! News Search Results for Merck MK-0524B
• Merck MK-0524B - Google News

Technorati Tags: Merck, MK-0524B, niacin, simvastatin, Zocor

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The merger and acquisition mania in the pharmaceutical industry continues unabated. Now, Amgen will acquire Avadia, a San Francisco area company that specializes in Avimer proteins for $380 million.

Chemical & Engineering News: Latest News - Amgen Will Acquire Protein Specialist Avidia:

AS I have stated before, I don’t see this activity abating anytime soon and it will likely continue into next year, especially in Europe.

Disclosure: I do own a few shares of Amgen.

Other Resources

• Amgen - Media - Press Release
• AMGEN TO ACQUIRE AVIDIA, A PRIVATELY HELD BIOPHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
• Yahoo! News Search Results for Amgen Avidia
• Amgen Avidia - Google News

Technorati Tags: Amgen, pharma M&A, pharmaceutical deals, Avidia

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Just wanted to let you know that I was at the Podcast Expo in Ontario Friday and Saturday last week and then took a couple of days vacation while I was in southern CA. The Podcast Expo was great and I learned a lot and hope to apply what I’ve learned to the Searching the Internet podcast and the website soon.

It was also great to get to meet many people whose podcasts I listened to and who I have communicated with over the past year. It was nice to be able to put names with faces.

I am now back and will be blogging on a regular basis.

Technorati Tags: Podcast Expo 2006

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