Vanda says anxiety drug failed main goal of late-stage study, puts program on hold
VNDA•Vanda Pharmaceuticals said its experimental social anxiety drug VQW-765 failed the main goal of a late-stage study and put the program on hold pending further analysis. The trial enrolled 546 adults, and shares fell about 17% in extended trading.
1. Trial missed key goals
The study did not show that VQW-765 reduced anxiety compared with placebo during a public-speaking stress test. It also missed a key secondary goal in the broader study population.
2. Program on hold
The late-stage trial enrolled 546 adults with social anxiety disorder at about 30 U.S. sites and was designed to confirm findings from an earlier mid-stage trial. Vanda said the late-stage results did not confirm those findings and it would review the full dataset before deciding what to do with the program. The drug was safe and well tolerated, consistent with prior studies.
