Amylin shares fall as Bydureon disappoints in diabetes study

USA-based Amylin Pharmaceuticals saw its shares fall nearly 4% to $17.10 yesterday morning, after it revealed new clinical data showing that, while its new type 2 diabetes drug candidate Bydureon, an extended-release injectable version of already marketed Byetta (exenatide) beat one comparator drug, it was little better than two others, one of which was the now generic metformin.

The new formulation is being developed with US drug major Eli Lilly (which co-markets Byetta), using technology from Alkermes. The results were from DURATION-4, the fourth in a series of studies designed to test the superiority of Bydureon compared to other type 2 diabetes medications. The new drug candidate is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration, which is expected to give its decision by October 22.