Glenmark's drug fails clinical trials

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland), a subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals India (GPL) said that its molecule under development Oglemilast has failed to yield positive results in clinical trials for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), an acute form of smoking induced lung disease.

The company had licensed the potential drug to US-based Forest Laboratories, who was conducting clinical trials to develop the drug for COPD and asthma.

“Oglemilast is an orally administered PDE 4 inhibitor, which we believe to be an important and novel therapeutic target for COPD. We are, of course, disappointed that Oglemilast has not been successful in this study,” said Howard Solomon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Forest Laboratories.

This molecule is also undergoing trials to check if it can be useful in treating asthma. "The results are expected during the first calendar quarter of 2010. We are considering together with Glenmark what further action would be useful or appropriate," said Solomon.