Durect
When post-surgery pain reliever Posidur failed to meet its primary endpoint, shares were promptly slashed by a third. That's life in spec pharma. The trial, named BESST, gave the worst possible results: Posidur failed to show statistical significance in reducing pain. But hey, at least it was shown to be safe!
Durect will huddle up with partner Hospira
This isn't the end of the line for Durect. It has two products on the market and its extended-release and abuse-resistant technologies can still be licensed out, but it needs to start winning. Shares have fallen 75% since top drug candidate Remoxy, partnered with Pfizer
But the FDA isn't against improved painkillers. The month prior and the month after, two similar drugs were approved, one by Johnson & Johnson and another by Pfizer and partner Acura Pharmaceuticals
Beyond Remoxy, Durect has two drugs in phase 2 trials, two more in phase 1, and one preclinical candidate. Bottom line, Posidur was the company's nearest-term candidate of moving the needle. Now investors are resting their hats on the ability to get Remoxy's issues finally straightened out and past the FDA along with some compounds that are years away. Today's sell-off is justified as there are probably better places to put your money in the meantime.
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