Wyeth bags bifeprunox

Six months after receiving a "not approvable" letter for the atypical antipsychotic bifeprunox, Wyeth announces Feb. 29 it is backing out of a development and commercialization deal for the schizophrenia drug with Solvay Pharmaceuticals. "We met with FDA, and while they did talk about there being a path forward [for bifeprunox], Wyeth conducted an assessment, and at the end of the day, decided there wouldn't be enough commercial value for both companies to share," the firm tells "The Pink Sheet." Wyeth initially said it likely would pursue development of bifeprunox for the maintenance of stable adult patients with schizophrenia but would not pursue an acute treatment indication after receiving the not approvable letter in August (1"The Pink Sheet," Aug. 13, 2007, In Brief)