Discontinued drugs in 2006: anti-infectives

Abstract

Of the drugs dropped from development in 2006, 11 were being developed for infectious diseases. Of these, nine were for viral diseases, including four against HIV, two against hepatitis C virus and one each against respiratory syncytial virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (coronavirus) and a variety of viruses. The nine antiviral agents comprised six synthetic small-molecule compounds, one peptide, one monoclonal antibody and a vaccine. The remaining two agents were a vaccine for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, and lipid-based agent for septic shock. Each of these drugs is briefly reviewed and reasons for failure are discussed.