Adolor Corp said that two of its new drug candidates that it was developing alongside Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) to treat osteoarthritis did not perform better than a placebo in a midstage clinical phase-II trial involving 400 patients.
“We obviously are disappointed with the results of this study,” said Dr. Eliseo O. Salinas, senior vice president of research and development and chief medical officer of Adolor (NASDAQ: ADLR). “The extent of placebo response was surprising, but unfortunately not unusual in osteoarthritis studies.”
Salinas said Adolor and Pfizer will review the results of the study of the two drugs, ALD5859 and ADL5747, during the coming weeks and determine whether or not additional testing of the compounds in chronic inflammatory pain indications is worthwhile.
Exton, PA-based Adolor currently has one drug available in the market, Entereg, which is used to accelerate the time that lower gastrointestinal function is restored following partial large or small bowel re-section surgery.
Shares of Pfizer traded down 1.68% on Friday ending at $15.21.
