Merck Forced To Put Unsuccessful Insomnia Drug To Sleep

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck & Co. and H. Lundbeck A/S said on Wednesday they were ending studies of experimental insomnia drug gaboxadol due to disappointing effectiveness and worrisome side effects in late-stage trials.

Merck and Lundbeck said the side effects included dizziness, headaches, hallucinations and vomiting. In a mid-stage trial presented last summer, Merck said one of the most common side effects was tachycardia -- a rapid heartbeat that can be fatal, especially to patients with heart disease.

Shares of Danish drugmaker Lundbeck closed down almost 17 percent on Wednesday in Copenhagen. Merck, a far larger company with a wide array of medicines, was little changed in early afternoon trading.

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