Merck has decided not to seek regulatory approval for taranabant, an investigational drug to treat obesity, and is discontinuing its Phase III development program for taranabant in obesity. The drug is similar to Acomplia, the Sanofi-Aventis obesity drug that was rejected by the FDA because of adverse events.
   
"Available Phase III data showed that both efficacy and adverse events were dose related, with greater efficacy and more adverse events in the higher doses. Therefore, after careful consideration, we determined that the overall profile of taranabant does not support further development for obesity," said John Amatruda, M.D., senior vice president and research head, diabetes and obesity, Merck Research Labs. "We thank the patients and investigators around the world who collaborated with us on the research program for taranabant and look forward to developing new medicines for obesity to address the significant medical need posed by this disease."