GlaxoSmithKline announced headline results from its second phase III study with darapladib, SOLID-TIMI 52, evaluating the efficacy of its investigational Lp-PLA2 inhibitor in adults following an acute coronary syndrome.

In the study, darapladib did not achieve the primary endpoint of a reduction of major coronary events versus placebo when added to standard of care. The overall safety profile for darapladib showed no major safety concerns and was generally consistent with the safety data seen in the previously reported phase III study, STABILITY. Further analysis of the data is ongoing. Darapladib is not approved for use anywhere in the world.

Acute coronary syndrome is a term used to describe situations or events, including heart attack, where there is a sudden reduction of blood flow to the heart. Initial presentation by a patient with acute coronary syndrome results in a diagnosis of coronary heart disease.

Patrick Vallance, GSK’s president of pharmaceuticals R&D, commented:“We are disappointed that the outcome of this second phase III study with darapladib does not support a regulatory submission in atherosclerosis. Our phase III programme for darapladib would not have been possible without the generous participation of more than 30,000 patients with coronary heart disease and their families, and we are most grateful for their participation. We will now work to further analyse the data and better understand the findings.”

The primary endpoint measure in the SOLID-TIMI 52 study was time to first occurrence of any event from the composite of coronary heart disease death, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and urgent coronary revascularisation (medical procedures performed to restore normal blood flow in patients with atherosclerosis) for myocardial ischemia. Full results of the SOLID-TIMI 52 study will be presented at a scientific meeting.