Merck & Co., Inc. announced that it is discontinuing its Phase III clinical development program for its substance P antagonist investigational product, MK-0869, for the treatment of depression. The Phase III clinical program was halted because the compound failed to demonstrate efficacy for the treatment of depression.

"There are significant challenges in scientific research, and unfortunately, sometimes disappointments," said Peter S. Kim, Ph.D., president, Merck Research Laboratories. "While we had reason to believe that the compound could be effective in the treatment of depression, the results of the Phase III trials did not demonstrate efficacy. Although Merck will not be continuing its clinical development program for MK-0869 in depression, we remain committed to our neuroscience research programs at our facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom," he said.