GENSIA PROTARA THIRD PHASE III HALTED BY OUTSIDE MONITORING COMMITTEE

Executive Summary

GENSIA PROTARA THIRD PHASE III HALTED BY OUTSIDE MONITORING COMMITTEE because an interim analysis of data collected met a prespecified stopping point for the trial, the San Diego biotech firm reported Aug. 12. Gensia, however, is still blinded to the results and does not know whether the independent safety and data monitoring committee decided to halt the trial because of positive or negative efficacy results of Protara (acadesine, formerly Arasine) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The committee did tell the firm that the trial was not halted for safety reasons.