Solvay Pharmaceuticals announced its decision to discontinue all R&D activities for its investigational compound SLV319. This compound, a selective cannabinoid type 1 antagonist, was currently in phase 2 development for the treatment of obesity. The phase-2 results recently confirmed its clinical activity and its efficacy.

As announced in the nine month results press release of 30 October, Solvay Pharmaceuticals was analyzing the next step for the development of this molecule in the current regulatory framework, after the return of worldwide rights to Solvay at the end of September 2008.

"While the discontinuation is not related to any adverse events or the efficacy of the compound, we have made this decision after careful evaluation of the current regulatory environment, leading to new and high regulatory hurdles for approval of a compound of this class", said Dr Claus Steinborn, Head of Global R&D, Solvay Pharmaceuticals.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals is a research driven group of companies that constitutes the global pharmaceutical business of the Solvay Group. These companies seek to fulfil carefully selected, unmet medical needs in the therapeutic areas of neuroscience, cardiometabolic, influenza vaccines, gastroenterology and men's and women's health.