Merck & Co's Gefapixant Effective In Refractory Cough, But Taste Concerns Remain

Data From Phase III Studies To Be Shared With Regulators

Updated results from two Merck & Co Phase III studies, COUGH-1 and COUGH-2, confirm the drug’s efficacy in reducing the frequency of refractory cough and its association with taste disturbances.      

Coughing
• Source: Shutterstock

Updated results from two Phase III studies, COUGH-1 and COUGH-2, continue to show Merck & Co., Inc.’s investigational agent, gefapixant, significantly reduces the frequency of refractory or unexplained chronic cough, but the purine P2X3 receptor antagonist is also associated with quite a high incidence of taste disturbance, which may limit its promise. 

The results were presented at the virtual European Respiratory Society (ERS) congress 2020, and built on interim results presented earlier...

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