Bellus Health struck by Phase II disappointment

7 July 2020

Negative results from the Phase II RELIEF study have caused shares in Canadian cough specialist Bellus Health (TSX: BLU) to collapse.

The trial, which is testing the oral P2X3 antagonist BLU-5937 in people with refractory chronic cough, missed its primary endpoint of coughing frequency, with the news sending Bellus’ shares down 9.7% pre-market today.

The firm is hoping to offer an improvement on Merck & Co’s (NYSE: MRK) gefapixant, a therapy in the same class, which is associated with the adverse event of taste loss.

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