Merck & Co's Gefapixant Cuts Chronic Cough in Phase III

But Concerns Over Taste Side Effects

New data puts Merck & Co's P2X3 receptor antagonist ahead of the field but Bellus Health's rival in the class may benefit from issues over taste alteration with gefapixant.

Coughing
Prevalence Of Chronic Cough Estimated At 10% Of Adults Globally • Source: Shutterstock

Merck & Co. Inc. has presented promising late-stage data on gefapixant which the US giant hopes will become the first approved therapy for chronic cough.

Touted by Merck as one of the key drugs in its pipeline, gefapixant is an orally administered, selective P2X3 receptor...

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