Big success and even bigger failure for Daiichi Sankyo's experimental therapy

Daiichi Sankyo has been hit with mixed news this week regarding its experimental therapy mirogabalin. The drug posted trial success in treating patients with post-herpetic neuralgia by hitting its primary endpoint, yet failed to hit its target in a trial focused on fibromyalgia.

During the first trial in post-herpetic neuralgia examined 765 participants in Asia, mirogabalin showed its efficacy by producing a statistically significant reduction in the weekly average daily pain score from baseline to week 14 of the study.

However, during the much larger second trial, mirogabalin failed to adequately reduce the weekly average of worst daily pain score from baseline to week 13 – though neither trial displayed any unexpected safety concerns.

Marielle Cohard-Radice, global head of development, remarked: "The results provide us with important data and insights regarding the clinical profile of mirogabalin in specific pain populations. We will continue to study mirogabalin and its potential use in pain syndromes as part of our ongoing global clinical development programme."

Daiichi Sankyo is also conducting a study of mirogabalin’s efficacy in the diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain space.  

Matt Fellows