NicOx antihypertensive taken into Phase I trial by Merck.

PARIS -- Merck & Co., Inc. initiated the first in a series of planned clinical trials of a new nitric oxide-donating anti-hypertensive agent developed by NicOx SA, under the terms of the collaboration agreement the two companies signed in March 2006.

Altogether, three drug candidates have been selected from the companies' joint research program, of which two have completed initial dose ranging studies in healthy volunteers under an exploratory clinical study paradigm. The Phase I trial is being conducted on patients suffering from mild to moderate hypertension.

Merck, of Whitehouse Station, N.J., plans to conduct a number of clinical trials in hypertensive patients involving single and multiple ascending dosing, prior to the selection of a …