A panel of advisors to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reportedly expressed concerns about the efficacy of Merck & Company, Inc.'s (NYSE: MRK) new drug gefapixant, intended to treat chronic cough.
The panel highlighted a lack of convincing evidence to support the drug's clinical benefits for patients, casting doubt on its potential approval.
The FDA panel, with a 12 to 1 vote, questioned the late-stage data submitted by Merck, pointing out only a minor reduction in cough frequency compared to a placebo, according to Reuters.
The advisory panel also scrutinized the side effects experienced by patients, including loss of taste, the report added.
Despite acknowledging that the side effects were manageable, the experts remained unconvinced about the drug's overall effectiveness. This skepticism ...