Merck and Neuromed ax drug development progra

Merck Frosst & Co and Vancouver-based Neuromed Pharmaceuticals have discontinued their collaboration on NMED-160, a Phase II compound for the treatment of chronic pain. The companies concluded that the compound did not have "the ideal pharmaceutical characteristics considered necessary to advance the compound further". The two firms will continue their research collaboration evaluating alternate, earlier stage drug candidates. Neuromed says the collaboration with Merck resulted in the discovery of additional N-type calcium channel blockers for pain that are moving towards clinical trials....