Analysts turn bearish on Roche’s taspoglutide prospects

After initially tapping taspoglutide as the latest in a string of likely blockbusters-to-be from Roche, analysts are turning sour on the drug's prospects after gaining a close look at the side effect data presented by researchers over the weekend. The once highly touted diabetes drug prospect was put through the ringer earlier in the month when Roche said that it needed to amend trials to watch for side effects like vomiting and nausea, delaying any app for up to 18 months. But a look at...

Roche faces long delay for diabetes drug taspoglutide

Roche has delayed development of its potential blockbuster type 2 diabetes drug taspoglutide for up to 18 months due to hypersensitivity problems observed in trial subjects, including skin reactions and digestive symptoms. Heart and respiratory events were also observed in some patients. Roche will use the additional time to identify patients who are sensitive to the treatment and remove them from clinical trials. The Swiss drugmaker, which is developing the once-weekly injection in conjunction...

Rival developers race to grab Type 2 diabetes market

If the FDA approves the once-weekly diabetes treatment exenatide (Bydureon) later this year, it may quickly face some strong competition from new drugs now in the pipeline, according to a review presented by Alan Garber of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Writing from the World Congress on Controversies to Consensus in Diabetes, Obesity and Hypertension in Prague, the peer-reviewed MedPageToday highlights taspoglutide--which is now in Phase III--as well as albiglutide and LY2189265,...

Roche’s taspoglutide gins blockbuster diabetes data in PhIII

Roche (NASDAQ: RHHBY) took another big stride today in its long march toward a regulatory filing for the likely diabetes blockbuster taspoglutide. The pharma giant said that the experimental medicine produced promising Phase III data, proving significantly superior to a placebo. Fresh evidence of safety and efficacy is steadily boosting analysts' estimates of likely sales. "We believe taspoglutide has the potential to develop substantial sales over time, which we believe could reach a...