Lilly halts development of schizophrenia candidate pomaglumetad methionil

US drug major Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) saw its shares dip less than 1% to $44.51 in morning trading yesterday, as the company announced it is halting ongoing clinical studies investigating pomaglumetad methionil, also known as mGlu2/3, for the treatment of patients suffering from schizophrenia.

The news follows last month’s revelation that the HBBN study of pomaglumetad methionil had failed to meet primary efficacy endpoints in the treatment of patients suffering an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia (The Pharma Letter July 12). The decision was made after a recently conducted independent futility analysis concluded HBBN, the second of Lilly's two pivotal studies, was unlikely to be positive in its primary efficacy endpoint if enrolled to completion. The decision was not based on any safety signals.

Additionally, said Lilly, the recently completed Phase II study, HBCO, which investigated pomaglumetad methionil as an adjunctive treatment with atypical antipsychotics, did not meet its primary endpoint.