SOLVAY BEGINS TRIAL OF OBESITY DRUG CANDIDATE

Solvay has announced that a Phase IIB study of the obesity drug candidate SLV319 has begun following a decision of the joint development committee.

SLV319 belongs to a novel class of agents called cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) antagonists, which work by blocking the CB1 receptor. Clinical and preclinical studies involving this class of drug have shown that blocking the CB1 receptor results in reduced food intake.

This move into Phase II trials has triggered a milestone payment of $25 million from partner Bristol-Myers Squibb. This payment coincides with an overall increase in R&D and marketing costs for Solvay Pharmaceuticals of a similar amount.

The company also announced last week that its subsidiary, Fournier Laboratories Ireland, has notified the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) of its decision to withdraw its application for a centralized marketing authorization for Synordia. The withdrawal is due to the fact that Solvay is not able to respond to the EMEA's request for additional information within the allowed time frame.

Synordia is intended to be used as an adjunct to changes to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control and dyslipidaemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes. It is intended for use in patients who require both fenofibrate and metformin and have already been stabilized on each drug.