Neurocrine: depression drug ineffective in study

Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. said Tuesday a potential treatment for major depressive disorder conferred no benefit on patients in a midstage study.
The study on GSK561679 involved 150 patients and was conducted by partner GlaxoSmithKline. It compared the drug candidate with placebo.
Neurocrine said it plans to meet with GlaxoSmithKline in the coming months after full clinical data are available to discuss next steps for the program.
Other ongoing clinical trials on the drug are testing it against post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and alcoholism.
Shares of Neurocrine Biosciences fell 79 cents, or 12.6 percent, to $5.46 in after-hours trading after rising 18 cents to close at $6.26 during the regular trading session.