Merck & Co., Inc. Bone Drug Shows Benefits So Trial is Stopped

Merck & Co. (MRK) will stop testing an experimental therapy meant to prevent bone fractures in women with osteoporosis because the drug has worked so well in a late- stage trial. The shares rose in early trading. The drug, odanacatib, has been tested in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis since 2007, Merck said in a statement. An advisory panel monitoring the results recommended closing the phase 3 study early “due to robust efficacy and a favorable benefit-risk profile,” Whitehouse Station, New Jersey-based Merck said yesterday in the statement.