Nucryst Drug Fails to Show Efficacy

Nucryst Pharmaceuticals (NCST Quote) said its atopic dermatitis treatment failed to show efficacy in a Phase 2 clinical trial.

The Wakefield, Mass., biotech said its NPI 32101 drug candidate was compared with placebo in a topical cream applied to children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis. The 12-week study involved 409 patients at 29 North American sites.

The success rates of both 2% and 1% NPI 32101 creams were statistically identical to that of the placebo, Nucryst said. "Although the study did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint, the higher than expected placebo response rate may have made it difficult to discern efficacy of NPI 32101," the company said. "A more detailed analysis of the study is underway."

Treatment with NPI 32101 cream was well tolerated. The incidence of all adverse events was low and was not different among the NPI 32101-treated groups and the placebo-treated patients, Nucryst said.

The company said it plans to continue efforts to develop NPI 32101 for a variety of disease conditions.

Nucryst fell $1.18 late Wednesday to $9.57.