Pfizer's Lyrica falls short in two pain studies

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(Reuters) - Pfizer Inc's big-selling Lyrica drug failed to help HIV patients and

diabetics relieve forms of nerve pain, according to separate clinical trial

results released by the drugmaker on Friday.

Pfizer said it stopped a late-stage study involving patients with HIV

neuropathy, a form of nerve damage characterized by burning pain. An interim

look at the data by independent advisers overseeing the study prompted Pfizer to

halt the study.

Lyrica did no better than a placebo in relieving the pain, according to the

interim analysis. No safety concerns were raised by the advisers, Pfizer said.

A second late-stage study tested Lyrica for patients with painful diabetic

peripheral neuropathy, which is a form of nerve damage characterized by burning

or shooting pain in hands and feet. About 20 percent of diabetics suffer pain

resulting from nerve damage, Pfizer said.

Lyrica did not meet the main effectiveness goal of the second study.

The results appear to cut off new growth avenues for Lyrica, which is approved

to treat other forms of pain as well as seizures suffered by epileptics. Lyrica

sales rose 16 percent to $955 million in the first-quarter results reported by

Pfizer earlier this week.

(Reporting By Krauskopf; Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)