(Reuters) - GTx Inc said its experimental drug to treat muscle loss was effective in increasing lean body mass and leg muscle strength in post-menopausal women.
The trial tested the drug Ostarine in 88 post-menopausal women, who received either a 3 mg dose of the drug along with two doses of another drug MK-3984, or a dummy drug.
This is the third clinical trial for Ostarine. GTx, which was previously co-developing the drug with Merck & Co Inc, said on March 15 that they terminated the collaboration agreement.
Ostarine is a member of a family of medicines called SARMs, or selective androgen receptor modulators, to treat muscle loss related to cancer or to the normal process of aging.
After 12 weeks of treatment, patients receiving Ostarine and the other SARM -- called MK-3984 -- showed a significant increase in total lean body mass from baseline compared to the dummy drug, the company said.
GTx said it expects to meet with U.S. health regulators this summer to discuss the late-stage clinical development plan for Ostarine.
Shares of GTx closed at $2.70 Friday on Nasdaq.
(Reporting by Krishnakali Sengupta in Bangalore; Editing by Roshni Menon)
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