Penwest Pharma: Pain drug fails main goal in mid-stage trial

Feb 4 (Reuters) - Penwest Pharmaceuticals Co (PPCO.O) said its mid-stage trial of Nalbuphine ER, its experimental drug for moderate chronic pain, did not meet the main goal of the study but achieved a number of secondary goals.

The company said the trial did not meet the main goal of reducing pain due to patient dropouts in the first week of dosing.

The company said the results of the study showed efficacy sufficient to support continued development of the drug, adding that it plans to conduct another mid-stage trial commencing in the second half of this year. (Reporting by Jennifer Robin Raj in Bangalore; Editing by Himani Sarkar)