N4 Pharma Plc (LON:N4P) shares halved at the opening bell on Monday as initial data from an early-stage trial of one of its lead drugs disappointed.
The AIM-quoted company has been trying to tweak the current formulation of sildenafil – commonly known as Viagra – to get the erectile dysfunction treatment to work more quickly and for a longer period of time.
N4 said it is yet to receive the full set of results, but “it is clear” from the data already received that its reformulation failed to meet the primary endpoints of the trial.
“This part of the process of drug reformulation is always going to be a challenge and whilst this preliminary data is clearly disappointing, we will need to see the full set of results expected around the end of August to understand the detailed implications for the formulation,” said chief executive Nigel Theobald.
“We will provide a further update once we have had a chance to review all the findings from the trial about the next steps we will take to reformulate the product.”
Theobald added that N4’s nuvec development program continues as planned with further results due later this year.
Shares collapsed by 56.5% to 10p.