Monday, pharma company Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) said that in the late stage trial taranabant, its investigational medicine to treat obesity, showed statistically significant weight loss in patients, who took the drug in combination with diet and exercise.The company noted that patients taking taranabant 2 mg experienced more than double the amount of weight loss at 52 weeks compared to patients treated with placebo. In the study, maximum weight loss was achieved by week 36 and was maintained throughout the next 16 weeks. Patients in all treatment groups were placed on a diet and exercise regimen in addition to therapy or placebo.Taranabant, a highly selective blocker of the cannabinoid-1 receptor, is believed to be responsible for regulating weight by impacting appetite and food consumption, satiation or the feeling of satisfaction or fullness after a meal, energy expenditure and cravings. Obesity and its associated conditions will put tremendous burden on health, social and economic systems worldwide.The two-year multinational, double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III study of taranabant evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of the therapy in obese men and women. The late-stage trail also recorded responses specific to other measures, such as change in waist circumference, lipid levels, glycemic parameters, proportion of patients with metabolic syndrome, and blood pressure.People who participated in the study had a Body Mass Index, or BMI, between 30 kg/m2 and 43 kg/m2 or a BMI between 27 kg/m2 and 43 kg/m2 with obesity-related comorbidities including hypertension, dyslipidemia or sleep apnea. The study results suggested that taranabant, an investigational therapy, has the potential to be a valuable treatment option, if approved, for patients suffering from obesity and its many complications.Commonly reported adverse event in the study was gastrointestinal and occurred more frequently in patients taking taranabant. Meanwhile, the incidences of psychiatric adverse events were greater at higher doses of taranabant, the company noted.John Amatruda, vice president of clinical research, Metabolic Disorders, Merck, said, Based on the benefit-risk considerations and the lack of a substantial improvement in the efficacy of taranabant at the 4 mg and 6 mg doses seen in our clinical program compared to the 2 mg dose, we have decided to continue to evaluate taranabant in doses up to and including 2 mg in our Phase III studies. He added, We have a robust Phase III clinical program in place, and we look forward to presenting further results later this year. Obesity is a condition in which people will have an abnormally high proportion of body fat compared to set standards. Obesity has reached global epidemic proportions. According to World Health Organization, about 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million will be obese by 2015. MRK is currently trading at $39.12, down $5.07 or 11.80%, on a volume of 3.46 million shares.
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May 01, 2026 15:54 ET Central banks dominated the economics news flow this week with almost all major ones announcing their latest policy decisions and many boosted expectations for a rate hike in June. In other news, several countries released the preliminary data for first quarter economic growth. In the U.S., comments by Fed Chair Jerome Powell were also in focus as his term ends this month.