Depomed Says Shingles Pain Drug Meets Study Goal

Depomed is studying 300 milligram and 600 milligram tablets of the drug. In the trial, patients were given doses of 1,800 milligrams per day, taken all at once. The most common side effects were dizziness and tiredness. Pelzel said a once-per-day treatment is more convenient, because patients can take the tablets before going to bed and without becoming tired during the day, and possibly missing other doses.

A total of 452 patients were enrolled in the study.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals has the license rights to DM-1796 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico as a pain treatment. That business is being bought by Abbott Laboratories for $7.6 billion.

Also jumping were shares of Xenoport Inc., which is also developing a gabapentin-based drug as a treatment for pain following shingles. Xenoport and its partner, GlaxoSmithKline, reported positive results from a mid stage trial in September.

Shares of Santa Clara, Calif.-based Xenoport gained $1.59, or 8 percent, to $21.42.

Abbott shares rose 49 cents to $50.33, and GlaxoSmithKline stock added 14 cents to $38.86.